Manchester City Vs Burnley Betting – Saturday 7th November

Manchester City V Burnley

Saturday 7^th November – 15:00 GMT

Manchester City

League Position: 4^th

Recent League Form: WDDDD

Manchester City are currently suffering from we like to call, under performing syndrome, also, draw syndrome. They have one serious illness it would seem, and no it’s that bloomin Swine Flu. Mark Hughes just can’t construct a win right now as City’s drawing wagon rolls on after a 0-0 draw with Birmingham last Sunday. The point at St. Andrews now means City have drawn four consecutive games, although, that was the first time this season that City’s expensive strike force has failed to find the opposing net but they should regain their goalscoring form at home against a Burnley side who can’t defend on the road to save their life’s.

A lot is expected of City’s lavished stars this season and they appeared to be on course for top four contention at one stage. Unfortunately, Manchester United came along and stopped them completely in their tracks. Since the defeat at Old Trafford, City have won just once in five outings in the league, that coming at home against a team second from bottom in the league in West Ham United, winning 3-1. Draws away at Aston Villa (1-1), Wigan athletic (1-1), Birmingham (0-0) & at home to Fulham (2-2) are far from acceptable for a team that has had millions upon millions spent on them.

City were very fortunate to take a point away from St. Andrews last Sunday as they were second best throughout most of the game. For the first time this season, City’s defence looked extremely vulnerable. At times i could of drove a double-decker through their back four, a slight over-exaggeration, but you get the point. Shay Given was the star man that day after he saved James McFadden’s spot kick but Mark Hughes will be hoping he won’t have to rely on his number 1 too much in this home encounter with Burnley.

Man City’s record at home this season has been very good. Their record at The City of Manchester stands at 3-1-0, with City dropping points in just one home encounter, a 2-2 draw with Fulham a game they should have won after leading 2-0 at one point. They have scored 10, averaging over 2 a game, whilst they have conceded five, keeping just one clean sheet against Wolves, winning 1-0. Games at City’s relatively new stadium are becoming entertaining encounters and this should be no different, albeit probably in a City whitewash.

Burnley

League Position: 10th

Recent League Form: LWLLW

Although this may look a one-sided affair on paper, Burnley fans will be optmisitc of claiming another Manchester scalp on Saturday as they travel to The City of Manchester Stadium to take on the blue side of Manchester. Burnley have already come up against City’s local rivals, Manchester United, and won, so, although the trip is a daunting one, fans will have high hopes of another successful game against a Manchester outfit.

To be brutally honest, we can’t see Burnley getting away from Manchester alive. Their away form is dreadful, performances have been well below par of those at home, while their defence often goes missing when on their travels. Although Burnley’s league position may look a healthy one, that is solely down to their superb form at home and it’s been their away form that has massively let them down. Five away outings has resulted in five away defeats for Owen Coyle’s side and it doesn’t get any easier with a trip to Man City, a team with big ambitions for the season.

Burnley have not only lost all five on the road this season but several of them were heavy defeats, as well. Stoke City (2-0), Chelsea (3-0), Liverpool (4-0), Tottenham (5-0), were all big defeats although they were some tough fixtures. The closest they came to nicking a point was at local rivals, Blackburn, when they went down to a 3-2 defeat at Ewood Park. Scoring has been issue, with just two away goals thus far, while defending has been an even bigger concern, conceding 17, the second worst away defence in the league.

Burnley will do well to come away from Manchester with their pride still intact in our opinion. They don’t have a midfield that can keep the ball for long periods of time, strikers who will manufacture their own chances and, more importantly, a tight defence that won’t concede easy goals. City could inflict another huge defeat on Burnley unless they improve their away game dramatically by the time Saturday comes around.

Head-to-Head:

These two teams have never met in a Premiership fixture so this will be the first ever meeting between the two since the Premiership was formed.

Match Verdict: Manchester City to WIN – 1.37 Coral

A comfortable home win is expected here as City continue their charge up the table and into top four contention. Burnley have been terrible on the road thus far, losing in all five away outings. City, however, tend to play their best football in front of their home fans and they look far too strong for a Burnley side leaking plenty of goals on the road. This really could be three or four in our brutal opinion as a hungry City go after their first win after drawing their previous four.

Match Odds:

Manchester City – 1.37 Coral

Draw – 5.00 PaddyPower

Burnley – 11.00 Boylesports

 Update: The result of Man City v Burnley was 3-3 (goals by Wright-Philipps, Touré, Bellamy; Alexander, Fletcher, McDonald)