Burnley entertain Middlesbrough in a massive Sky Bet Championship clash affecting both ends of the table.
Victory would lift Burnley out of the relegation zone, whilst Middlesbrough can climb to second with a win if Charlton and QPR both lose elsewhere.
Team News
Josh Laurent is suspended for Burnley following his red card in their 4-1 loss at Norwich.
Lucas Pires could return after he missed the trip to Carrow Road due to concussion protocols.
Enock Agyei, Jaydon Banel (both unspecified), Ashley Barnes (fitness), Bashir Humphreys, Jordan Beyer, Oliver Sonne (all knee), Josh Cullen (ACL),
Middlesbrough could be without new signing, Rokas Pukstas due to a visa delay following his move from Hajduk Split.
Jeremy Sarmiento could also be absent after he suffered an unspecified injury during their 3-1 victory at home to West Bromwich Albion.
When is Kick-Off?
Burnley face Middlesbrough at 8pm BST on Wednesday 2 September at Turf Moor, live on Sky Sports Main Event and Football in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Burnley are unbeaten in their last seven league meetings against Middlesbrough (W3, D4).
- Middlesbrough are winless in their last four visits to Burnley (D2, L2).
- Burnley have kept just one clean sheet in their last five meetings at home against Middlesbrough.
- Nicky Hayen’s Clarets have conceded nine goal in the opening three matchweeks of the league campaign, which is the joint highest alongside Stoke who too have conceded nine goals.
- Will Lankshear is yet to score a first-half goal for Middlesbrough this season.
Prediction
Having been second-best right from the first whistle at Norwich, Burnley really need to be much tighter because their defence at the minute is uncharacteristically poor by their recent second-tier standards, whilst their attack is lacking much spark and consistency.
Zian Flemming meanwhile will be a huge loss up front in terms of goals following his move to Ipswich, so this is a huge test for the Clarets in terms of adaptability as he was by far their biggest asset.
Boro meanwhile just lacked clinical accuracy in the first half but there is no doubting their goalscoring ability, attacking intensity and potential, so I am hoping that they can just be more polished in their end product as this is winnable if they can breach Burnley’s defence.
The attention though will be on Burnley and how they adapt without Flemming and sort out their defensive fragility, but I just think that Boro have the confidence to end their Turf Moor rut and punish the hosts’ defensive vulnerability if can be more clinical.
Prediction: Burnley 0-2 Middlesbrough
Result: Burnley 1-1 Middlesbrough
Leave a Reply