Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Championship clash between Sunderland and Burnley, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sunderland and Burnley will be looking to continue their perfect starts to the Championship campaign when they meet at the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon.
While the home side are yet to concede a goal, the visitors have the best attacking record in the division.
Match preview
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Scott Parker may only be two matches into his reign at Burnley but he has already won over any supporters who had any reservations about his appointment.
The Clarets have won at a canter against Luton Town and Cardiff City, remarkably scoring nine goals in their opening 180 minutes of the campaign.
In each match, the strikes have been spread out, highlighting the constant threat that Parker’s side have had in the final third, and expectation is certainly growing that another Championship title could be in the offing.
There have also been seven different goalscorers, albeit one from Wilson Odobert who has since made the switch to Tottenham Hotspur.
Including games at the back end of last season’s Premier League, Burnley’s only away defeat in their last four such competitive fixtures came by a 2-1 scoreline at Spurs.
Like Burnley’s fanbase, Sunderland supporters would have been divided over an unknown quality in Regis Le Bris being brought in as the club’s new boss.
However, the Frenchman has delivered an unforeseen perfect start to the second-tier campaign, first witnessing the Black Cats register a 2-0 success at Cardiff City.
Many tipped Sheffield Wednesday to prevail at the Stadium of Light in their second fixture, yet Sunderland ruthlessly disposed of the Owls by a 4-0 scoreline.
Le Bris will now have to deal with the raised expectations and this will be a significant test of their credentials ahead of trying to add to the squad in the final week of the transfer window.
Sunderland Championship form:
Sunderland form (all competitions):
Burnley Championship form:
Team News
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Barring any fitness issues, Le Bris should select the same Sunderland XI from the comprehensive win over Sheffield Wednesday.
Each of the attacking quartet played their part in the four-goal victory, leaving the likes of Romaine Mundle and Nazariy Rusyn to bide their time on the substitutes’ bench.
Jack Clarke is currently expected to play despite interest in his signature ramping up.
Burnley confirmed the arrival of Bashir Humphreys from Chelsea earlier this week and he is in contention to replace Dara O’Shea, depending on whether an acceptable bid is made for the Republic of Ireland international.
Han-Noah Massengo, Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Zeki Amdouni all made contributions from the bench against Cardiff, yet may have to remain among the replacements.
Although Sander Berge has just left for Fulham, the Norwegian midfielder was not part of the last squad.
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Patterson; Hume, O’Nien, Alese, Cirkin; Neil, Bellingham; Roberts, Rigg, Clarke; Mayenda
Burnley possible starting lineup:
Hladky; Roberts, O’Shea, Esteve, Pires; Vitinho, Cullen, Brownhill, Koleosho; Rodriguez, Foster
We say: Sunderland 1-2 Burnley
The Stadium of Light will be rocking for this game, anticipating the chance that their side has to make a statement. However, there is a feeling that Burnley could romp this league, leading us to predict a hard-earned triumph for Parker’s team.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.