Burnley v Sunderland
15:00
Burnley were lucky to come home with a win on Boxing Day, only managing to score against Middlesbrough thanks to a keeping error from Victor Valdes, but they now stand six points clear of the relegation zone and can breathe a little easier. This weekend they host Sunderland, whose woes continued as they lost at Old Trafford to leave them in 18th place. Most of the focus in that game was on Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s extraordinary backheel, but after three defeats in four games, David Moyes will be feeling the pressure.
Although Burnley have been torrid playing away this season (they’ve earned just one of their 20 points in the league on the road), few can fault their efforts at home. They’ve won six of their 10 games at Turf Moor so far, and they’ve scored first in eight of those 10. They are yet to face a bottom-six team at the homestead so far this season, but they’ve won the three matches they’ve played there against bottom-half sides, keeping clean sheets in two of those. Sunderland, by contrast, have lost six of their last seven away games, including a 0-3 drubbing at fellow relegation strugglers Swansea, and have not kept a clean sheet on the road in their last 10.
Sunderland have scored only three times in their last seven away games, and Burnley should be too strong for them at home. We fancy Burnley to win.
