Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Championship clash between Burnley and Preston North End, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Aiming to keep their unbeaten record at their base intact, Burnley will welcome Preston North End to Turf Moor for a Lancashire derby on Saturday afternoon in the Championship.
The Clarets recorded a hard-fought one-goal success over Plymouth Argyle earlier in the week, whilst the Lilywhites produced a statement result against a stuttering Watford side at Deepdale.
Match preview
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Since back-to-back losses against Sunderland and Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers at the end of August, recently-relegated Burnley have strung together a run of five games unbeaten in the Championship, strengthening their chances of enjoying an immediate return to the top flight.
The Clarets might have expected an easy night on Tuesday against Wayne Rooney‘s Plymouth, who have been woeful on the road so far this campaign, however the hosts at Turf Moor needed to rely on a first-half penalty from influential midfielder Josh Brownhill to secure maximum points.
With the October international break fast approaching, Scott Parker‘s troops are currently occupying second place in the early Championship standings, one point ahead of third-placed Sheffield United and one point behind league-leading Sunderland, who have been sensational under the leadership of Regis Le Bris to date.
Conceding just four goals across eight second-tier fixtures so far, Burnley have the second-best defence in the division behind Chris Wilder‘s Blades (3), although there is concern over a lack of clinical edge in the Clarets’ ranks, with only Brownhill and winger Luca Koleosho managing more than one league goal.
Following their return to the stresses and strains of Championship life in August, Parker’s side have enjoyed a four-game unbeaten run at their intimidating Turf Moor fortress, including a trio of wins over bottom side Cardiff City, newly-promoted Portsmouth and the aforementioned Plymouth.
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After a worrying four-match winless streak in the Championship, Preston North End were one of the biggest winners of a midweek gameweek in the second tier last time out, recording a highly-impressive three-goal victory over Tom Cleverley‘s Watford, who are beginning to wane after a stellar opening to the term.
Following a goalless first half devoid of much quality from either side, the contest burst into life during the second period, when Milutin Osmajic‘s brace and a first of the season from midfielder Ali McCann secured a convincing maximum over the Hertfordshire Hornets.
Posting only their second victory of the 2024-25 Championship term on Wednesday night, Preston moved out of the relegation zone and up to 21st in the second-tier rankings, one point ahead of 22nd-placed Queens Park Rangers and four ahead of basement dwellers Cardiff, who have only won once so far.
Excluding the South Wales Bluebirds, the Lilywhites possess the poorest attacking record in the Championship as the October international break approaches, with Saturday’s visitors to Turf Moor netting on just seven occasions across their opening eight fixtures, boasting only six separate goalscorers.
With experience of taking Sheffield United from midtable mediocrity to Premier League promotion, Paul Heckingbottom certainly has the credentials to turn Preston into a side capable of competing at the top end of the division, with the 47-year-old losing just two of his eight matches since taking over from Ryan Lowe.
Burnley Championship form:
Burnley form (all competitions):
Preston North End Championship form:
Preston North End form (all competitions):
Team News
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Watching his brother feature for Aston Villa in the Champions League earlier this week, Burnley’s Aaron Ramsey remains a frustrated figure on the sidelines due to a cruciate ligament injury.
The Clarets are also sweating over the fitness of striker Lyle Foster, with the South Africa international a doubt for this weekend due to a knock.
Parker will be unable to call upon the talents of defensive duo Hjalmar Ekdal and Jordan Beyer, with the pair recovering from muscle and hamstring issues respectively.
In the midst of the jubilation of a win over Watford last time out, Preston picked up an injury concern in the form of Kaine Kesler-Hayden, who sustained a knock in the closing stages of the match.
As a result, the Lilywhites may need to deploy a different face at right-back this weekend, with 30-year-old Brad Potts a top candidate for the role.
Burnley possible starting lineup:
Trafford; Humphreys, Egan-Riley, Esteve, Pires; Cullen, Brownhill, Koleosho, Hannibal, Anthony; Foster
Preston North End possible starting lineup:
Woodman; Potts, Lindsay, Storey, Hughes; Whiteman, McCann, Thordarson, Frokjaer-Jensen, Brady; Osmajic
We say: Burnley 2-0 Preston North End
Unbeaten at home in the Championship so far, Burnley will be confident of recording another win at Turf Moor against one of their Lancashire rivals.
Preston have failed to earn three points on the road in the second tier during 2024-25, and we do not expect their maiden away success to arrive at the home of a promotion favourite on Saturday afternoon.
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