Looking to extend their unbeaten run to a sensational 26 matches in the second tier, Burnley will welcome playoff-chasing Bristol City to Turf Moor in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.
The Clarets still have work to do in order to secure an immediate return to the Premier League despite their excellent form, whilst the Robins are battling hard to be involved in the top-six picture as the campaign draws towards its dramatic conclusion.
Match preview
© Imago
Since a one-goal defeat at the intimidating base of Millwall on November 3, Burnley have enjoyed one of the longest unbeaten runs in Championship history, stringing together a stellar sequence of 25 games without the taste of defeat, strengthening their chances of earning automatic promotion.
An absolute force from midfield during recent second-tier campaigns, 29-year-old Josh Brownhill bagged his 13th league goal of the term last time out as the classy Clarets secured a 2-0 success in South Wales against Swansea City, with influential winger Jaidon Anthony also finding the net.
Despite losing just two matches during their opening 38 battles of the second-tier season, Scott Parker's troops still find themselves on the outside of the automatic promotion spots, with Saturday afternoon's hosts two points behind Chris Wilder's Sheffield United in second.
Whilst the brilliant Brownhill has carried his team in an attacking sense so far, Burnley have an excellent collective effort to thank for their formidable ways at the other end of the pitch, with the Clarets conceding just 11 goals across 38 Championship matches, a record which certainly helped goalkeeper James Trafford to earn a senior England call-up earlier in March.
Turf Moor has been a happy place for the young shot-stopper and the rest of Parker's men during 2024-25, with the Lancashire club unbeaten in front of their home faithful in the second tier, although nine draws from 19 matches at the venue have prevented Burnley from sitting comfortably at the top of the table.
© Imago
After almost a decade as part of the furniture in the middle section of the Championship proceedings, Bristol City are set to make an ambitious charge for the lottery of the playoffs during the final weeks of this season, with this weekend's visitors representing one of the in-form sides in the division.
The Robins proudly took a seven-game league unbeaten run into the final international break of the campaign, an impressive period which includes victories over Stoke City, Middlesbrough, Millwall and most recently struggling Norwich City at Ashton Gate.
Playing on a Friday night a fortnight ago, Liam Manning's men were presented with the opportunity to lay down an early top-six marker during their clash with the Canaries in the West Country, and the confidence-filled hosts obliged, with efforts from Mark Sykes and Nahki Wells securing a 2-1 success.
Losing just one of their last 11 matches in the second tier, the Robins have flown the nest of mid-table mediocrity and are currently occupying seventh position in the Championship rankings, level on points with West Bromwich Albion, who are guarding entry to the playoffs.
Recent history points towards a humbling day in Lancashire for Bristol City this weekend, as the West Country outfit have lost each of their last eight meetings with Burnley across the Championship and FA Cup, with the Robins' most recent success in this matchup arriving all the way back in November 2011 at Ashton Gate.
Team News
© Imago
Burnley are by far the sternest defence in the division despite a major absentee from their backline, with German enforcer Jordan Beyer sidelined due to a serious hamstring injury.
There are also issues for Parker to contend with at the top end of the pitch, as both Aaron Ramsey and Mike Tresor are unavailable owing to knee and leg problems respectively.
Whilst the experienced Jonjo Shelvey (leg) occupies a spot in the medical room, another veteran of the Burnley squad is thriving at right-back in the form of Wales international Connor Roberts.
After an injury-plagued time at Ashton Gate so far, Bristol City defender Ross McCrorie looks set to make his latest return to the first-team fold, this time from a hamstring strain.
The Robins have a pair of senior stars who will not kick a competitive ball again this term, with Ayman Benarous and Luke McNally both suffering cruciate ligament injuries.
Burnley possible starting lineup:
Trafford; Roberts, Egan-Riley, Esteve, Pires; Edwards, Cullen, Laurent, Anthony; Flemming, Brownhill
Bristol City possible starting lineup:
O'Leary; Vyner, Dickie, Roberts; Sykes, Williams, Knight, Bird, Pring; Wells, Mehmeti
We say: Burnley 1-0 Bristol City
Fresh off the back of a two-week hiatus from club action, the Burnley squad should be raring to boost their top-two hopes with a routine Turf Moor triumph.
Bristol City will be desperate to make a statement in their playoff push with a shock success in Lancashire, but we feel that the plucky Robins are set to suffer a narrow defeat.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
