Wolverhampton Wanderers V Burnley Betting – Sunday 20th December (Sky Sports 1)

Wolverhampton Wanderers V Burnley

Sunday 20^th December – 13:30 GMT

TV Coverage: Sky Sports 1

Wolverhampton Wanderers

League Position: 18th

Recent Form: LLWWL

This may not look the glamour game of the weekend but many eyes will now be on this fixture simply to watch if Mick McCarthy does pay the price for losing the gamble. The Irish manager put things into perspective in midweek when he fielded one of the weakest teams the Premiership has even seen, making wholesale changes (10 in all), in a bid to rest his key players for this crunch clash with Burnley. A game which he clearly sees is far more winnable than the one in midweek at Old Trafford, which he would be right in thinking, but isn’t one of the main reasons for promotion to pit yourself against the very best with your own very best?

This game will either be one of two things. A car crash waiting to happen or the setting for a brave genius in the making. We think the former will be the case as only a win will do after wasting both the clubs and fans time on Tuesday night, with the Wolves fans venting their frustration at Mick McCarthy’s embarrassing team selection with chants of them demanding their money back. However, a win for Wolves could soon convert those hostile fans into McCarthy admirers with a home win this Sunday.

To their credit, those who did step in as replacements for the first team put in a creditable performance and didn’t hard the club’s face, despite losing in a comfortable manner, 3-0. For large parts of the first half, Wolves were more than a match for the hosts and could of taken the lead. However, a bizarre hand ball from Zubar handed United the initiative and Wayne Rooney duly obliged from the spot. Wolves were never a match from then on out but things could have been oh so different were it not for some dreadful defending.

That game will now be a distant memory but could it be a season defining moment for Wolves, one that decides evidentially whether Wolves stay in the division or see red once again. So often seasons are defined by such controversial moments, Phil Brown’s half-time rant on the pitch a shining example and a display which seen Hull crash to dire form ever since. Will Wolves follow a similar fate or will the gamble pay off with a win that would please a hostile crowd.

We personally felt it was a wise decision as regardless of the result against Burnley on Sunday, Wolves were never going to get anything out of the game with United as their squad is wafer thin. However, from a neutral and a Wolves fans perspective, I can see why so many aren’t impressed with his action. However, a win at Molineux would justify his decision but Molineux has hardly been the setting for great football this season. In eight home games thus far, Wolves have managed to win just the two, losing four of them. They do, however, have a 2-1 victory over Bolton to reflect on as their last home success but they did previously lose three from four at home and despite their apparent edge in the fitness department, we still feel Wolves will come up short.

Burnley

League Position: 13th

Recent Form: DLLDD

Earning a point against Arsenal would be seen a massive achievement to most clubs, but Burnley aren’t most clubs when playing at Turf Moor and they can feel mighty aggrieved that they didn’t take home all the spoils in Wednesday’s thrilling encounter. However, Burnley now go on another away venture and they will be aiming to bolster their away credentials with their first away win of the season, their first ever in the Premiership, at the expense of a Wolves side which should feature a completely different starting eleven to the one that face Man Utd on Tuesday.

We will stick our hands up and say even we underestimated Burnley’s potential on Wednesday night. The Clarets took on an Arsenal side fresh off the back of their success over Liverpool and we thought Burnley would end up playing second fiddle for the most part of the game. However, we couldn’t have been any further from the truth and it was actually Burnley who played the better football. Their swift attacking moves was a joy to watch and their ability to crave open what should be a strong Arsenal was unbelievable. Our only fault was that they couldn’t capitalise on the handful of chances they did create and that just one found the net… or did it?

Steven Fletcher, in our honest opinion, was wrongly denied the winner when he was adjudged to have been offside when Chris Eagles slid in an inch perfect cross to which Fletcher taped into an empty net. Nonetheless, Burnley didn’t dwell on that controversial decision and carried on where they left off, pushing forward and piling the pressure on what was a poor Arsenal defence that night. However, their pressure didn’t pay off and the draw was a fair result, although Burnley may be thinking otherwise.

Now, though, Owen Coyle takes Burnley’s neat, attack minded style on the round. However, Burnley have failed to replicate the sort of displays that has seen them beat both Man Utd and Everton at home into their away fixtures. This is clearly evident in their away points accumulation of just 1. Whereas at Turf Moor, Burnley have registered eighteen. That’s a huge divide and it’s one Owen Coyle must close because they are become too reliant on their home form. However, they won’t get an easier chance to register their first away win of the campaign than against an ordinary Wolves outfit.

Head-to-Head (Last 10):

Wolverhampton Wanderers W: N/A Burnley W: N/A Draws: N/A

These two, what with this being Burnley’s first season in the top flight and Wolves’ second, have never met in a Premiership encounter. However, the pair will recognise the importance of this game and the first clash should be more exciting then perhaps expected.

Match Verdict: Burnley to WIN – 3.90 Boylesports

Because of Mick McCarthy’s antics in midweek, resting the entire outfield against Man Utd, the bookies seem to think that this edge in fitness will massively boost Wolves’ chances. However, we think completely the opposite as the pressure will solely be on Wolves to win this game as anything else would be seen as a disaster considering the controversy surrounding McCarthy’s actions on Tuesday night. Burnley, however, have no pressure whatsoever on them and we think they are great value to register their first win of the campaign, especially as their last few outings on the road has produced some decent displays.

Match Odds:

Wolverhampton Wanderers – 2.00 Bet365

Draw – 3.50 BetFred

Burnley – 3.90 Boylesports

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Burnley to WIN to NIL – 11/2 PaddyPower