Burnley host West Bromwich Albion at Turf Moor in a huge Friday Night Football clash in the Sky Bet Championship.
Victory would see Burnley extend their lead at the summit to eight points, whilst West Brom can go third with a win.
Team News
Jack Cork is suspended for Burnley after he collected his tenth booking of the season in the Clarets’ narrow home win against Coventry last weekend.
Vitinho (rib) is set to return but Taylor Harwood-Bellis (foot) remains absent.
West Brom will be without Matt Phillips after he suffered a quad injury during their midweek replay victory at home to Chesterfield in the FA Cup.
Karlan Grant (fitness) could return but Kyle Bartley (foot) and Brandon Thomas-Asante (suspension) both remain absent.
Stat Attack
- Burnley have lost just one of their last six meetings against West Brom (W1, D4, L1).
- West Brom have won just one of their last seven league visits to Turf Moor (W1, D4, L2), which came via 1-0 result in August 2017.
- Burnley are looking to avoid going three consecutive home games against West Brom without scoring for the first time since a four-match streak between September 1938 – February 1951.
- Since returning from the World Cup break, Burnley have conceded just one goal in three home matches (W3).
- Daryl Dike has scored in each of West Brom’s last two league matches (W2).
Prediction
Given their sizeable gap out front to those fighting for a play-off spot, it is little surprise that Burnley seemed to lift their foot off the gas last weekend with an uncharacteristic scrappy win against Coventry, so I do expect them to come out fighting for an improved performance here.
West Brom meanwhile are unbeaten in 11 of their last 12 matches in all competitions and were ruthless in their dismantling of Chesterfield in midweek, so I do expect them to come here full of belief especially after how they responded from 2-0 down at Luton last weekend.
Turf Moor though has been a haven for Burnley with no home losses all season so West Brom will need the perfect game if want a result, otherwise Vincent Kompany’s Clarets could continue their dominance but I wouldn’t be surprised if we see another draw between these two teams.
Prediction: Burnley 1-1 WBA
Result: Burnley 2-1 WBA
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