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Burnley logo
Championship
Feb 22, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Nottingham Forest logo

3-1

Arfield (12'), Vokes (25', 35')
FT(HT: 3-0)
Abdoun (80')

Preview: Burnley vs. Nottingham Forest

Sports Mole previews Saturday's top-of-the-table Championship clash between Burnley and Nottingham Forest at Turf Moor.

Burnley will be looking to consolidate their position in the automatic promotion spots of the Championship with a victory over Nottingham Forest at Turf Moor on Saturday.

The Clarets currently occupy the coveted second place following a run of nine matches without defeat in the league and are two points clear of nearest challengers Derby County.

However, four of their last six games have ended in draws which, with the chasing pack growing in size and improving in form, represents too many dropped points from Sean Dyche's point of view.

They are currently eight points behind league leaders Leicester City, making their main focus to simply open the gap between themselves and those below them.

They have an impeccable home record to fall back on and are the league's only remaining unbeaten team in front of their own fans, winning nine and drawing six of their 15 games at Turf Moor.

They also have the best defensive record at home, conceding just nine goals, and have only lost three times overall this season - the joint-fewest defeats for any side in England's top four divisions.

Dyche does have the luxury of a fully-fit squad to choose from for Saturday's game, and he could opt for an unchanged side.

Burnley's record this season is certainly impressive, but Nottingham Forest will fancy their chances against any side at the moment, as proven by their 2-2 draw against Leicester on Wednesday.

That result extended their unbeaten streak in the league to a whopping 14 games, and they are right in with a chance of joining those chasing second place.

Victory on Saturday could lift them as high as third and close the gap to second to just two points, although such a scenario would rely on other results also going their way.

While Burnley have been the hardest team to beat at home in the Championship this season, Forest boast the same record away from home having lost just twice on their travels.

They are unbeaten in their last eight on the road, with their most recent outing ending in a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Huddersfield Town.

Henri Lansbury, Chris Cohen, David Vaughan and Kelvin Wilson are all out for the visitors, but Guy Moussi could make a return to the starting lineup for Billy Davies's side.

Recent form

Burnley: DDDWWD

Nottm Forest: WWDWLD

Possible starting lineups

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

Nottm Forest: Darlow; Halford, Hobbs, Lascelles, Fox; Jara, Reid; Mackie, Moussi, Paterson; Cox

Sports Mole says: 2-2


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Blackpool manager Barry Ferguson looks on during the Championship match against Reading on January 28, 2014
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Tables header RHS
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2Burnley85211441017
3Leeds UnitedLeeds9441157816
4Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd8530103716
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom8512126616
6Blackburn RoversBlackburn8431149515
7Middlesbrough842295414
8Watford84131213-113
9Hull City8332129312
10Norwich CityNorwich83321210212
11Oxford UnitedOxford Utd83231210211
12Swansea CitySwansea832386211
13Bristol City8242913-410
14Stoke CityStoke83051012-29
15Derby CountyDerby83051012-29
16Millwall8224121118
17Coventry CityCoventry8224911-28
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth8224812-48
19Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds8224914-58
20Luton TownLuton8224813-58
21Preston North EndPreston8224712-58
22Queens Park RangersQPR8143914-57
23Portsmouth8044819-114
24Cardiff CityCardiff8116317-144


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