Burnley V Wolverhampton Wanderers Betting: Saturday, 13th March

Burnley V Wolverhampton Wanderers

Saturday, 13^th March – 15:00 GMT

Burnley

League Position: 19th

Recent Form: WLLLL

The Clarets are in desperate need of points but have been given the idealistic fixture to pick up maximum points as they host 17^th placed Wolves at Turf Moor. It’ a fixture they must win however, as this looks to be their easiest remaining home assignment. They will have to battle on without Steven Fletcher though, the clubs top goalscorer, but Burnley have been scoring goals of late, although they haven’t picked up a point in any of their previous four league games, which is a massive concern despite their apparent ability to regularly get on the score sheet.

Burnley’s performance at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday was pleasing in some respects, mainly just from an attacking point-of-view as Burnley had a good three or four chances to score, more than most sides get at the Emirates, yet they converted just one of them. However, a disturbing sight was just how easy Arsenal carved open that Burnley defence – the worst defence in the Premier League – and were Nicklas Bendtner not in such a wasteful mood, Burnley could have left London with a more emphatic defeat.

The clubs poor away form is there for all to see and will probably be what kills their Premiership status come the end of the season, having lost thirteen of fourteen away fixtures thus far, so the pressure is beginning to build every time Burnley take to the field in their home encounters as they now any dropped points will be costly, although even their home form is starting to desert them. In their last seven home games, Burnley have notched up just one, solitary victory with that coming in the form of a 2-1 win at home to West Ham. The euphoria at the club after that brilliant start has withered away, while the confidence of the players is almost stone dead, so it’s hard to see where Burnley will get their inspiration from as they have no recent results to be positive about.  

It’s their defence which has our alarm bells ringing, with goals being conceded in regular concessions, even at their beloved Turf Moor. Not since their 2-0 victory at home to Hull City, back in October, have Burnley kept a clean sheet in a home fixture, conceding in each of their previous seven games at home. Moreover, to add insult to injury, they were even beaten by the team rock-bottom of the Premiership in Portsmouth in their last home outing, which just goes to show how far Burnley’s tables have changed, with even their home form, what is a lifeline for them, rapidly diminishing.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

League Position: 17th

Recent Form: LWLLL 

A familiar pattern is beginning to form; Wolves play out of their skin against their Premiership opponents, hit the wood work a few times before succumbing to the inevitable defeat. You would think backing against Wolves is easy money going by their recent run of results, but that hasn’t been the case as their performances of late have merited so much more than just defeat after defeat. There is little room for sympathy though as Wolves now drop even closer to the relegation zone, with only a superior goal difference keeping Wolves on safe ground. Defeat at Turf Moor, however, could see Wolves fall back into uncharted water, so it’s about time Wolves became clinical for once. 

Mick McCarthy must feel he and his hard-working Wolves team are cursed at the present moment in time after yet another valiant display on Saturday, only this time at home to the reigning champions, Manchester United. Wolves played so well that no-one would have bemoaned a Wolves win, which just about says everything you need to know, with a point was the least they deserved. Of course, as per usual, they came away with nothing, no points and zilch to show for their efforts as their unfortunate spell of results extends to three defeats in a row.

Surely a win is just around the corner as Wolves are playing some of the best football in the Premiership right now, and that’s us biting our tongue after earlier in the season rating Wolves as one of the poorest footballing sides in the league. Their last three games have been tough assignments on paper; two home fixtures with Chelsea & Man Utd and an away venture at Bolton. All of which Wolves should have scored a good few in but managed nothing in, once again. It’s not as if half-chances are going begging, it’s glaring missed, chances any other side would put away with their eyes closed, which does make you think that perhaps Wolves are just doomed, a club stricken with relegation fate and that their brief stint in the Premiership is coming to another abrupt end. 

If Wolves carry on where they left off; creating tonnes of chances and work hard, then a win will come eventually, perhaps even at Turf Moor as now is the ideal time to play a hapless Burnley. However, backing Wolves just seems too precarious so long as their baron run in front of goal continues, with their fruitless evening at Molineux on Saturday the third game on the spin where they hadn’t managed a goal. Add this to the fact that Wolves have failed to score in four of their previo9us six away fixtures and you’ll be forgiven for having reservations over a Wolves team ironically playing their very best football at the moment but still not reaping any rewards as a direct result.

Match Verdict: Draw – 3.40 SkyBet

The draw was the only viable option as we couldn’t back either side with any great deal of confidence. In fact, with both teams enduring miserable losing runs, the draw looks a stunning bet as neither know how to win a game of football on present form, and while a draw probably wouldn’t be a bad result for either considering it would put an end to both sides losing ruts. If we had to pick one side then it would be Wolves simply because they are creating a lot of chances and it’s a just a case of when and not if they’ll score a good few in a single game. They’ve been simmering in front of goal for a while now, but will Turf Moor be the venue where Wolves boil over and unleash their forward wrath? We don’t think so as a stalemate is the call.

Match Odds:

Burnley – 2.38 Coral

Draw – 3.40 SkyBet

Wolverhampton Wanderers – 3.30 Expekt

SoccerBetting Value Pick: Half-Time to finish in a Draw – 2.20 SkyBet