MX23RW : Sunday, November 17 13:30:03| >> :120:36236:36236:

Chris Wood discusses "horrible tragedy" in New Zealand

Burnley face Bournemouth on Saturday looking to pull further clear of the relegation zone.

Chris Wood has spoken about the effect on him of last month's terrorist attack in his home country of New Zealand.

The Burnley striker, who has been capped more than 50 times by the All Whites, was born in Auckland and began his footballing career in the country before moving to West Brom in 2008.

Fifty people were killed on March 15 when a gunman opened fire on worshippers at two mosques in Christchurch, and Wood said: "It's a horrible tragedy what's happened and the whole of the country's behind everybody that was affected.

"It just shows it happens everywhere in the world."

Asked if it had been hard to stay focused on football, Wood, who has scored 10
goals this season, said: "It would have been harder if it was people I knew.

"There were people connected with New Zealand football and things like that, which isn't great, but it doesn't matter who it was, it's still the New Zealand community and they're still New Zealand residents.

"They were supposed to be safe in our country and we failed to live up to that so it's about getting together as a nation again and rebuilding and helping out.

"My family are still out there – my sister, grandparents, auntie, uncles live up and down the country and I know a lot of people who do live in Christchurch and were around at the time. I've spoken to them, sent my love and condolences, and I hope they can help get everybody back stronger."

Burnley go into this weekend's clash with Bournemouth buoyed by last Saturday's victory over Wolves, which pulled them five points clear of Cardiff in the final relegation spot.

The Clarets defeated Bournemouth 4-0 at home earlier this season and will hope to take advantage of the fact the Cherries have only won one of their last eight matches.

Wood said: "We just take it game by game. If we win at the weekend, it puts us another step closer, if we get a point, it's another step closer.

"You want to get clear and safe as soon as possible. We can't think about what other people can do, we don't have a hand in their business. If we do the right stuff, we'll be fine."

After taking on Bournemouth, Burnley face Cardiff at Turf Moor in a game that could be crucial to both teams' survival chances, but Wood played down the significance.

He said: "We've taken points off the big four teams this season and, if we have to do it again, I'm sure we can. It's just another game. It's bigger for them I guess than us because we've got the cushion."

Burnley will be without striker Peter Crouch on Saturday after he underwent appendix surgery.

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Eleanor Crooks, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '2aabde7f-749d-4aec-88ce-08eca0c05c06');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Chris Wood calls for Kiwi unity after Christchurch terror attack'});

ID:355331: cacheID:355331:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5168:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Sean Dyche in charge of Burnley on January 19, 2019
Read Next:
Burnley boss Sean Dyche reveals back surgery
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Packers
@
Bears
6pm
Raiders
@
Dolphins
6pm
Colts
@
Jets
6pm
Jags
@
Lions
6pm
Rams
@
Patriots
6pm
Browns
@
Saints
6pm
Ravens
@
Steelers
6pm
Vikings
@
Titans
9.05pm
Seahawks
@
49ers
9.05pm
Falcons
@
Broncos
9.25pm
Chiefs
@
Bills
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland1594225111431
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1510321971231
3Leeds UnitedLeeds158522491529
4Burnley157621861227
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom15672169725
6Watford158162322125
7Middlesbrough157352317624
8Millwall156541813523
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City155732019122
11Swansea CitySwansea155461110119
12Derby CountyDerby155461919019
13Stoke CityStoke155461819-119
14Norwich CityNorwich154652322118
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds155371725-818
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd154561718-117
17Coventry CityCoventry154472021-116
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth154471526-1116
19Hull City153661620-415
20Preston North EndPreston153661523-815
21Luton TownLuton154381726-915
22Cardiff CityCardiff154381423-915
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR151771225-1310


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!