BURNLEY go into their home match with Stoke City tonight knowing that they can’t afford to continue an alarming slide towards the relegation fight.
When Sean Dyche’s side beat Leicester at the end of January, the Clarets moved up to ninth in the Premuer League table, 10 points clear of the drop – they have not won since.
But given they have won all but three of their points at Turf Moor, it will most likely be from their remaining four home games they will pick up points to survive
But they face a Stoke side, bang in mid-table in ninth but only four points above Burnley, who have lost six away defeats in their last eight.
So really whoever wins will go a long way to finally ensuring they will play in the top flight again next term…
What time does Burnley vs Stoke kick off and what TV channel is it on?
Burnley will take on Stoke at 7.45pm on tonight, Tuesday 4 April.
The match will not be broadcast on TV but you can keep up to date with all the action on the Sun Football App.
We will also have blow-by-blow updates on our live blog.
What is the Burnley team news?
Burnley manager Sean Dyche has got no new injury concerns ahead of tonight’s match.
Fit-again midfielder Steven Defour is again likely to be on the bench, while Johann Berg Gudmundsson is not ready to return from knee ligament damage.
Long-term absentee Although Dean Marney (knee) is out for the season.
What is the Stoke City team news?
Stoke forward Peter Crouch is a doubt due to a sore knee but Phil Bardsley is available after suspension, missing the game at Leicester.
Geoff Cameron may miss out again due to a thigh problem having only just come back from a four-month lay-off due to knee ligament damage.
Xherdan Shaqiri has a calf injury but returned to training on Monday – but will not feature as he aims to get match fit.
Longer term absentees are Jack Butland (ankle) and Glen Johnson (shoulder).
Last five games form
Burnley: LDLLD
Stoke: LLDWL
Fact Me
- Burnley have won just one of their five previous Premier League meetings with Stoke (D2 L2), losing to the Potters in their first ever game in the competition in August 2009.
- Stoke won the reverse of this fixture 2-0 in December. They haven’t done the league double over Burnley since the 1978-79 Second Division campaign.
- Eight of the nine goals scored in Premier League meetings between these sides have been in the first-half of games, including all six of Stoke City’s strikes.
- Burnley have failed to score in three of their last four home league games against the Potters, with the last three between them at Turf Moor all ending in draws.
- Stoke City have played 19 Premier League away games in midweek (Tues-Thurs) – in these 19 matches, they have won just seven points (W1 D4 L14).
- The Clarets have collected just nine Premier League points in 2017, with only Sunderland (6) and Middlesbrough (5) picking up fewer.
- Burnley haven’t lost back to back home league games since April 2015, when they lost to Arsenal and Leicester on their way to relegation out of the Premier League.
- Stoke are unbeaten in their last nine away Premier League matches against newly promoted sides (W4 D5), since a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in January 2014.
- Saido Berahino hasn’t scored or assisted in any of his last 13 Premier League starts (10 for West Brom, three for Stoke) – however, he scored a brace in his only previous Premier League start against Burnley in September 2014 while playing for the Baggies.
- Burnley and Stoke are two of three Premier League teams yet to win a game this season in which they’ve fallen behind (along with Middlesbrough) – the Clarets last achieved this in the top-flight in May 2010 (4-2 v Spurs) and have lost 35 and drawn seven of the 42 games since then in which they were losing.
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