Burnley will aim to reignite their Championship title pursuit on Tuesday night when they play host to mid-table Oxford United at Turf Moor.
The hosts have fallen five points behind league-leading Leeds United with 58 points from their 30 fixtures, while the visitors are 16th with 37 points from their 30 outings.
Match preview
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Burnley have experienced a truly unique season by all accounts, currently sitting third in the Championship table with 58 points from 30 games, boasting 15 wins, 13 draws and just two losses, though remarkably, 10 of those draws have finished without a single goal scored.
Despite their immense defensive record, conceding just nine goals in 30 games - the best record in the league - Scott Parker's side have faced criticism for their often uninspiring style of play, a feature of their performances that has been especially prominent in recent weeks.
The Clarets have kept clean sheets in all of their last eight Championship outings, but five of those have seen Burnley record goalless draws, results that have seen them gradually fall behind Leeds United at the top of the table.
Leeds boast 63 points from 30 games, while Sheffield United have 61 points from their 30 matches, leaving Parker's men in third place with 58 points, meaning the Clarets need to start more consistently turning draws into victories if they are to regain their place in the automatic promotion spots.
While they have experienced several stalemates in recent weeks, Burnley will still be confident of securing all three points on Tuesday, particularly given they are unbeaten at Turf Moor in the league this term.
However, Oxford Utd are one of the 10 teams to have drawn 0-0 with Burnley throughout this season, earning a point against the Clarets back in September, and they have hit much better form in the months since.
That draw is one of many notable results for the U's this season, contributing to their impressive 16th-place standing in the table during their first Championship campaign in 25 years.
Oxford Utd initially faced a challenging start to the term, winning just four of their opening 21 Championship fixtures, alongside 11 defeats and six draws, a run that included the shock dismissal of former boss Des Buckingham.
However, the Oxford Utd board have been vindicated in their decision, as after suffering a 4-0 defeat to Leeds United in their first match without Buckingham at the helm, the U's have since gone unbeaten in their next nine league matches under Gary Rowett, securing five wins and four draws.
Those results have seen them climb to 16th in the standings with 37 points, holding a healthy 10-point lead over the drop zone and trailing the top six by just seven points.
Their unbeaten run will also give them huge belief heading into this one against Burnley, though the U's have struggled on the road this term, winning just one of their 14 matches away from home.
Team News
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The hosts will be without the services of Aaron Ramsey (cruciate ligament), Enock Agyei (leg), Jordan Beyer (hamstring) and Nathan Redmond (leg) due to injury issues.
Luca Koleosho and Josh Brownhill were also both absent in the 0-0 draw with Portsmouth last time out due to injury issues, leaving both doubtful to feature here.
Zian Flemming has scored five of Burnley's last nine goals across all competitions, and the striker is expected to keep his place in the starting 11 for this one.
As for Oxford Utd, they are expected to be without Ben Nelson (hip), Elliott Moore (groin), Max Woltman (leg) and Owen Dale (muscle) due to injury, though all four should return later this month.
Rowett's side have remained unbeaten in their last nine league outings, with five wins and four draws, meaning the manager could opt to name the same starting team for this one.
Burnley possible starting lineup:
Trafford; Roberts, Egan-Riley, Esteve, Pires; Cullen, Laurent; Anthony, Mejbri, Foster; Flemming
Oxford United possible starting lineup:
Cumming; Kioso, Helik, Brown, Leigh; Vaulks, Brannagan; Placheta, Rodrigues, Dembele; Harris
We say: Burnley 1-0 Oxford United
While Burnley may have recorded several 0-0 draws in recent weeks, they remain the clear favourites given the significant difference in league standings between the two sides, and we expect the hosts to secure a victory in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
