Burnley are still looking for their first win of the season when they take on Sunderland at Turf Moor.
After managing two draws in four tough fixtures against Chelsea, Swansea City, Manchester United and away at Crystal Palace, this home game against the Black Cats presents the best chance for the Clarets to finally collect maximum points.
They improved from their opening day defeat to Chelsea when they were slow to press for the ball and were heavily punished. They currently find themselves 18th in the Premier League table despite conceding just once in the last three games.
Sean Dyche’s side are in that precarious position because they have the worst offensive record in the division. The strike partnership of Danny Ings and Sam Vokes that was instrumental to their promotion from the Championship last season has never had the chance to impact the Premier League due to injuries.
Sunderland will also be looking for their first Premier League win of the season. The Black Cats are yet to replicate the form they showed at the end of last season which saw them miraculously survive relegation. Gus Poyet will hope to start staking up points early to avoid another late scramble for survival.
Poyet has challenged his side to build on an impressive draw they managed against Tottenham Hotspurs last weekend. The Black Cats showed a lot of character to come from behind and claim a point against Spurs. The Uruguayan manager will be hoping that they can tighten up at the back while keeping their offensive threat that has brought them goals in every game this season.
Burnley team news
- Danny Ings is expected to be out for up to four weeks after picking up a hamstring injury against Crystal Palace.
- There is still no timeline on Vokes’ return from a serious knee injury he suffered five months ago. Dyche has revealed that Vokes is progressing well as he is now having individual training on the pitch.
Sunderland team news
- Sunderland do not have any significant injury worries ahead of this game.
- Poyet recently revealed that Connor Wickham is his main striker ahead of ex-Burnley striker Steven Fletcher and Jozy Altidore.
Prediction
Dyche will need a special plan to get goals from his side without Ings and Vokes. The Ginger Mourinho will probably start with a 4-4-1-1 formation with Marvin Sordell floating behind Lukas Jutkiewicz. That will allow him to retain the defensive shape of two banks of four that has served them well.
Sunderland have been particularly vulnerable against attacks from the flanks so the Clarets will need their wingers, Scott Arfield and George Boyd, to hold the width on the flanks and try to feed Jutkiewicz.
The Black Cats will start with their usual 4-1-4-1 formation with Wickham as the centre forward and Lee Cattermole policing the space between the lines.
Adam Johnson and Ricardo Alvarez will play an important role in Sunderland’s offensive plan. Burnley can be hard to break down when they drop back in numbers but they frequently struggle to deal with through balls. Poyet’s side will therefore need the likes of Sebastian Larsson to pick Johnson and Alvarez down the channels with floated balls from central midfield.
This should be a low-scoring game which could be won by the odd goal.
