MX23RW : Monday, February 3 23:03:55| >> :120:28384:28384:
[monks data]
Burnley logo
Championship
Mar 15, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Leeds logo

2-1

Pearce (38' og.), Arfield (67')
FT(HT: 1-1)
McCormack (27')

Preview: Burnley vs. Leeds United

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between high-flying Burnley and troubled Leeds at Turf Moor.

Burnley will be looking to take another step towards automatic promotion from the Championship this Saturday when they host Leeds United at Turf Moor.

The Clarets are currently second in the table with a comfortable eight-point gap now separating them from third-placed Derby County.

Manager Sean Dyche could be looking up the table rather than down it as they now trail leaders Leicester City by just seven points, albeit having played a game more.

Burnley come into this encounter on the back of an 11-match unbeaten streak in all competitions, while they haven't tasted defeat in the league since Boxing Day, 13 games ago.

They have only lost three times all season, which is a tally only Premier League leaders Chelsea can match out of the 92 teams in the top four divisions of English football.

Their home form is just as impressive, having not been beaten in any of the 17 league games at Turf Moor so far this season.

However, Dyche will need to pick his side up after they saw three points snatched from their grasp deep into second-half stoppage time in a 3-3 draw against Birmingham City on Wednesday.

The hosts received more bad news in that game as Danny Ings, the league's second top scorer behind Leeds striker Ross McCormack, picked up a knock that could rule him out of Saturday's clash.

January signing Ashley Barnes could come in for the prolific attacker, while Michael Kightly is also expected to return to the starting lineup.

Leeds, meanwhile, are a club in turmoil both on and off the field as their protracted takeover talks continue to make frustrating headlines for the fans.

A brief upturn in form at the start of February has well and truly been quelled by a five-match winless streak that has seen them drop down to 15th in the table and out of playoff contention.

Tuesday's 4-2 home defeat to Reading made it two defeats on the trot with nine goals conceded in that time for Brian McDermott's side, and he won't be too optimistic about improving those figures at Turf Moor.

Leeds have only found the back of the net once in their last three away outings, while their 2-1 win over Yeovil Town at Huish Park last month is their only win on the road in their last eight attempts in all competitions.

McDermott has no new injury concerns ahead of this weekend's match, but he could opt to make a number of changes to his side anyway, bringing in the likes of Cameron Stewart and Stephen Warnock.

Recent form

Burnley: WDWWWD

Leeds: WLDDLL

Possible starting lineups

Burnley: Heaton; Trippier, Shackell, Duff, Mee; Jones, Marney; Arfield, Barnes, Kightly; Vokes

Leeds: Butland; Byram, Pearce, Lees, Warnock; Austin, Murphy; Stewart, Mowatt, McCormack; Wickham

Sports Mole says: 3-0


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Written by
Barney Corkhill
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Brian McDermott. manager of Leeds United looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United at Hillsborough Stadium on January 11, 2014
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds30189360194163
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd30196541212061
3Burnley30151323692758
4Sunderland301610445261958
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn30136113429545
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom301014639271244
7Middlesbrough301281049391044
8Norwich CityNorwich30119104942742
9Bristol City30101283835342
10Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds30119104346-342
11Coventry CityCoventry30118114138341
12Watford30125134042-241
13Millwall301010103027340
14Queens Park RangersQPR30911103339-638
15Preston North EndPreston3081393338-537
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd30910113444-1037
17Swansea CitySwansea3097143242-1034
18Stoke CityStoke30711122837-932
19Cardiff CityCardiff30710133351-1831
20Portsmouth3079143652-1630
21Hull City3078153140-929
22Derby CountyDerby3076173241-927
23Luton TownLuton3076173049-1927
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth30510152963-3425


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