Saturday 31st December 15:00, Burnley host Sunderland at Turf Moor Last time out Sunderland lost 3-1 away to Manchester United and Burnley won 1-0 at home to Middlesbrough. Burnley continue to rely on their excellent home form having won four of their past five home games and, if victorious against Sunderland, could end the year in the top half of the table. The injury to Jordan Pickford may help Burnley as Vito Mannone will be rusty after not featuring since 21 August. David Moyes and Sunderland, however, are no strangers to adversity and will be fired up by the possibility of climbing out of the relegation zone David Moyes: Sunderland manager on the imminent transfer window: "I've spoken with the owner and I think there's a chance that maybe we could try to do things if the right things turn up, so we can only look and see. "And the other thing is, I have always been an expensive seller." Sean Dyche "We are on a sound footing here. We know that financially, the way the club is run. "It's a challenge when you try to spend money to get players in sometimes because of the enormity of what's needed. "On the other hand, we are in a very stable place with regards others trying to get our players." Match Appointments: Referee Graham Scott This season G3, Y11, R1, average of 4.33 cards per game Form: Burnley:L-L-W-L-L-W Sunderland: L-W-L-L-W-L Head to Head (Sunderland) Won 46 Lost 36 Draw 30 Team Selection: Burnley The Clarets are sweating over the fitness of Dean Marney who limped off against Boro, and they will also be without key midfielder Jeff Hendrick due to suspension. Sunderland Sunderland are set to make changes with Pickford out injured and Adnan Januzaj likely to make a return. Jack Rodwell, Javier Manquillo, Billy jones and Steven Pienaar should be returning to fitness. Jordan Pickford has a knee injury and could be out for up to 8 weeks. Jan Kirchhoff, Lee Cattermole, Lynden Gooch, Paddy McNair & Duncan Watmore are all unavailable due to long term injury. Expected Line ups Sunderland starting XI (4-3-3): Mannone, Van Aanholt, Kone, Jones, Djilobodji, Denayer, Januzaj, NDong, Borini, Defoe, Anichebe. Burnley starting XI (4-1-4-1): Heaton, Keane, Mee, Flanagan, Ward, Boyd, Marney, defour, Arfield, Gray, Barnes. please log in to view this image Betting: Burnley 7-5 Sunderland 9-4 Draw 11-5 My two pence... Burnley have a very good home record but we need to get at least a draw here. I am going with Lawro on this one with a 2-1 away win for a very merry Christmas. Ha’way the lads
Great post RTB as usual......going for Sunderland win.....two hit men one a piece....Vic and Defoe. First goal is vital. Don't give any soft goals away.....you listening N'Dong? If you give the ball away in this game then chase back and get it! Not sure this is a game for Januzaj as it's going to be blood and snots.Would prefer Khazri but I don't think that will happen. Maybe on your team RTB Larsson may start instead of Januzaj. If we are chasing the game towards the end he might them be worth a punt. Need more of a positive approach than the Swansea game so let's have the belief we can win this and don't sit too deep....three huge points here if we can get them!!!
You look at their team on paper and it's pretty ****ing average. Majority of Championship players but they play to their strengths and work bloody hard. Can we win IMO? Yes. Will we win IMO? Draw.
I've been gently steering the wife into a nice romantic evening at home with plenty of wine so I can watch the game early on. Didn't work as we are now going down to daughter's as her house is teenie free for the night so a night with a pensioner a middle-aged woman and a southerner who isn't interested in football. Yippee. Martyrdom again.
4AM over here so it would have been midnight bed or sitting up for a snooze or watching a recording when I awake. Now let me think....................
Cheers RTB, great match day thread as usual. Think that line up's about right with Januzaj and Borini swapping at will. Thought Januzaj had a better game against Watford and could be dangerous on the counter against Burnley. Be happy with a point away, as always, but delighted with a win.
Whatever the result today, it looks like another tough battle this season, the positives are that in Moyes we have a very safe pair of hands, and he is begining to get some shape into the team, after a very disjointed start. Also we now have some real support up front alongside Defoe. Keep Barnes quite to-day,and we should get a result, which would send us into the New Year, on the front foot. All the best everyone, onwards and upwards.
Great post. I am going for a SAFC win. Am on my way to Vegas, flight is currently delayed until 4.20 so hoping it gets another 30min delay and I might just see the whole game in the airport. If not its going to be a 10 hour wait to find out the result....
Getting a bit of sympathy rather than criticism from the BBC for a change. Football Focus commenting on Premiership's worst injury situation even before adding Pickford to the list, loss of players to Africa, youngsters on the bench,owners disinterest and no January money.