Looking to extend their run of second-tier shutouts to a staggering 11 matches, Burnley will make the short trip down the M65 to face Lancashire rivals Preston North End in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.
The Clarets eased past the attentions of relegation-threatened Hull City earlier in the week, whilst the Lilywhites recorded a surprise success at playoff-chasing Norwich City.
Match preview
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After nine years of midtable mediocrity in the Championship, Preston North End are determined to make a real fist of a late playoff push during the final 15 matches of the campaign, with Saturday's hosts currently enjoying a run of just the single defeat across their last eight games in all competitions.
The Lilywhites recorded their ninth second-tier success of the season on Tuesday night, when a seventh Championship strike of 2024-25 for Montenegro international Milutin Osmajic in the opening five minutes at Carrow Road secured all three points at the expense of Norwich.
Despite sitting in a modest 15th position in the Championship table ahead of this weekend's Lancashire battle, Preston still possess realistic hopes of securing a long-awaited playoff finish, with the hosts having played a game fewer than sixth-placed West Bromwich Albion, who are seven points ahead at this stage.
Losing just two of their 15 league matches at Deepdale so far this season, the Lilywhites have been reliant on home comforts to keep them alive and kicking in the playoff hunt, with only Burnley (0), Sunderland (0) and Leeds United (1) tasting defeat on fewer occasions in front of their respective home faithfuls.
Full of second-tier knowledge and boasting a recent Championship promotion on his CV, Paul Heckingbottom has steadied the Preston ship since replacing Ryan Lowe near the start of the term, with the former Sheffield United boss losing only eight of his 34 competitive matches in charge to date.
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After a campaign of depressing defeats in the Premier League during 2023-24, Burnley are a big fish in a relatively-small pond once again as the Championship campaign near its dramatic conclusion, with Saturday's visitors hellbent on breaking division record as well as securing an immediate promotion.
Beating relegation-threatened Hull by two goals at Turf Moor on Wednesday night, the Clarets have now enjoyed 10 straight clean sheets in the Championship, setting the record for the longest streak of shutouts since the formation of the second tier over a century ago in 1892.
As a result, England youth goalkeeper James Trafford has understandably earned plenty of plaudits so far this term, although a centre-back pairing of Conrad Egan-Riley and Maxime Esteve deserve equal amounts of praise, with the two defenders both newcomers to the relentless nature of the Championship schedule.
Despite conceding only nine goals across 32 second-tier contests this term and currently holding a 21-game unbeaten run in all competitions, Scott Parker's men still find themselves outside of automatic promotion in the league rankings, three points behind Sheffield United in second.
There have been serious concerns over Burnley's lack of attacking threat this term - only Blackburn Rovers have netted on fewer occasions across teams inside the top 11 of the division - although the January arrival of Sporting Lisbon star Marcus Edwards looks set to alleviate those offensive worries.
Team News
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Preston were dealt a major injury blow during the first half at Norwich earlier this week, with Duane Holmes suffering a broken leg following a poor challenge from Shane Duffy.
The 30-year-old is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign and will join the likes of Jordan Storey and Jack Whatmough in the Lilywhites' medical room.
The hosts have also lost a great deal of leadership from their ranks due to injuries, with both club captain Ben Whiteman (ankle) and Robbie Brady (back) out of action.
Burnley are battling on without the services of leading goalscorer Josh Brownhill, with the nine-strike midfielder picking up a knock at the end of January.
The Clarets' options on the flanks have been blighted by fitness problems, meaning that Lyle Foster is likely to continue on the left wing in the absence of Mike Tresor and Luca Koleosho.
Preston North End possible starting lineup:
Woodman; Porteous, Gibson, Hughes; Kesler-Hayden, Ledson, Thordarson, Meghoma, Greenwood; Frokjaer-Jensen, Osmajic
Burnley possible starting lineup:
Trafford; Roberts, Egan-Riley, Esteve, Humphreys; Cullen, Laurent, Anthony, Mejbri, Foster; Flemming
We say: Preston North End 0-1 Burnley
After grinding out a success at Norwich on Tuesday, Preston face one of the hardest tasks in the Championship as Burnley travel across Lancashire this weekend.
The Clarets are likely to be solid in defence once again, meaning that one goal is set to be the difference between one and three points for the visitors.
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Carter White
