Burnley V Stoke City

Burnley V Stoke City

Saturday, 9^th January – 15:00 GMT

MATCH POSTPONED – We regrettably have to inform you that the following game has been postponed due to severe weather conditions. Although the pitch has been confirmed as ‘playable’ the surrounding area; roads, pathways, steps etc… have been deemed a hazard and a risk to those fans who will attend the game. 

Burnley

League Position: 14th

Recent Form: DDLDL

We were mightily impressed with Burnley’s clinical display away at MK Don’s on Saturday in a fixture many were tipping up as a serious potential shocker. However, Burnley gave MK backers no chance with a comfortable 2-0 win at Stadium MK, one which led to them drawing a nasty tie away at Liverpool/Reading. Nonetheless, it’s good for the camp to progress in the cup,but the league, and surviving, is the priority for Burnley this season and Owen Coyle, providing he is still at the helm come Saturday, will need his players to concentrate fully on the task at hand this weekend in what will be one of their toughest home examinations this year for Burnley

Its common knowledge that Burnley, due to their horrendous away form, are relying heavily and solely on their form back at Turf Moor for survival this season, and a game such as this, against a Stoke City who could very well be in the mixer themselves, is extremely important to their chances. We wouldn’t go as far as to say that this is a relegation six-pointer, as for one; we don’t really see Stoke going down this season, and two; neither are in a too precarious position at present, although the fact that Burnley are just two points off the drop is a slight concern and a surprise considering they are 14^th in the league table.

The league table and Burnley’s position in it are misleading as their position would let on that they’re comfortable. That is far from the case and a defeat this weekend could actually see them drop into the bottom three for, what I think will be, the first time this season. However, their form at home has kept them a afloat this season but a lengthy run without a win at Turf Moor would have surely sent the alarm bells ringing. Four successive draws, all by a 1-1 scoreline, against Aston Villa, Burnley, Arsenal & Bolton, are actually very creditable results, with the exception of the Bolton game, but the points will be disappointing, nonetheless.

Owen Coyle will have to look for inspiration from their last home victory, a 2-0 win over a struggling Hull City back in October. They weren’t all that impressive in that game and have actually been playing a lot better of late so a win should be around the corner. However, Stoke are a physical side, whereas Burnley prefer to play in a more glamours way, and we aren’t quite sure which style of play will prevail in this contest, especially as Burnley could be found wanting from set-plays.

Stoke City

League Position: 10th

Recent Form: DLLLW 

The Stoke fans were blessed with a fair few goals when their Potters side went potty at The Brittania on Tuesday night. Stoke had previously only managed 15 league goals since the start of the season but found themselves 3-0 up by half-time against a Fulham side that had previously claimed the scalp of both Liverpool & Man Utd. However, Stoke nearly shot themselves in the foot when they allowed Fulham to pull two goals back and gave the home fans an undeserved shock before the ref finally blew for full-time.

Those three points against Fulham, three vital points, was Stoke’s first since the 22nd November, and Stoke were on a six match run without a win before their free-scoring success over Fulham. The result will have been very pleasing, their first half performance was a delight, but the way they collapsed and allowed Fulham back into the game in the second half will have been a major concern for Tony Pulis as you would expect any side, no matter how small, to close out a game comfortably with a three goal advantage.

With the shaky end to their last game aside, Tony Pulis & Stoke now have a platform to build on as they aim to get back onto a winning run by securing their first set of back-to-back league wins since mid October. Although Stoke were strapped for wins before the new year, that win over Fulham did lift the Potters back into the upper half of the table into 10th position and they look a very good bet to avoid the drop this season. However, they may very well come a cropper at Turf Moor at a venue where not only have their opponents been considerably strong for the entire season but also a setting where Stoke have struggled to score goals, but haven’t fallen to defeat at Turf Moor in their previous two visits. 

Although the Fulham win did end their overall winless rout, Stoke still have to contend with the fact that they haven’t won away from the Brittania in their last five outings. A run which stretches back to the end of October. It’s also worth pointing out that before their high-scoring heroics against Fulham, Stoke had failed to score in five of their previous six league games and whose last goal away goal came at Hull City, back in October, five outings ago.

In our opinion, Stoke cannot be touched at this present time, especially on the road. However, their goal scoring antics of Tuesday night may have lit the touch paper and we could find ourselves praising their strikers once again come our next set of previews. Although, we still can’t see that happening as we fancy Stoke’s winless away run to dwindle on.

Head-to-Head:

These two sides have never met in the Premiership, due to this being Burnley’s first season in the Premiership. Stoke, however, have a full top flight season under their belts so will this extra experience count in this tight contest.  

Match Verdict: Burnley to WIN – 2.30 BlueSquare

Home form is crucial in Burnley’s chances of avoiding the drop this season and a game with Stoke City takes on even more significance as it’s one that’s more than winnable. The Clarets play far more attractive, attacking football at Turf Moor, whereas Stoke have struggled to pick up points on the road of late and we’re sticking our pennies on the team with the strong home record, although a win for Burnley would be their first at Turf Moor in five games. It’s an intriguing match up, as Burnley will aim to play their football on the floor while Stoke will look to dominate in the air, but Burnley will create more chances than their travelling opponents and it will just be a case of whether they can take a few of them. If so, then we believe the three points will be there’s.

Match Odds:

Burnley – 2.30 BlueSquare

Draw – 3.30 totesport

Stoke City – 3.40 Bet365

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Graham Alexander Anytime Goalscorer – 6.50 WilliamHill