Championship: Brighton to edge out Burnley in tight tussle
Published:
Lee Gormley | November 20, 2015
Burnley v Brighton and Hove Albion
- Championship
- Sunday, November 22nd
- Kick-off: 13:15 GMT
- Turf Moor, Burnley
- Live on Sky Sports 1
Burnley battle Brighton in Championship clash
Burnley welcome fellow Championship contenders Brighton to Turf Moor in a second-tier clash that will shape the top of the table, and it’s the visitors who have won three of their last four domestic meetings since 2012.
The travelling Seagulls are flying high in second place, but Burnley are only two points adrift in third, making this tussle all the more important for both sides.
Chris Hughton’s visitors are 2/1 with Coral to secure victory and extend their rampant run in this fixture, having not been toppled by the Clarets since April 2012, conceding just a single goal in those four meetings since.
Seagulls’ sublime streak
Brighton have impressively gone unbeaten so far this campaign, walking away unscathed from the opening 16 outings, and come into this encounter on the back of a 2-1 triumph over MK Dons, following three successive draws.
Depending on current leaders Hull City in their respective clash during the weekend’s Championship action, the winner of this match-up could go top of the table upon the final whistle in their Sunday meeting, when Sean Dyche’s Clarets are 19/4 to win and both teams score.
The hosts have been in encouraging form themselves, having not been toppled since their narrow 2-1 loss to Reading in September, winning five and drawing two of their matches since. Both teams have endured plenty of stalemates in recent weeks, and another share of the spoils here is 21/10.
Dyche’s Clarets have only lost one of their previous 10 games, drawing with Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out, and they also boast one of the best home records in the division, being overcome just once at Turf Moor.
Keane rallies Clarets crowd
Speaking ahead of the potentially tight tussle on home soil, Clarets defender Michael Keane believes the Turf Moor support will help him and his teammates earn a first victory over Brighton for three years.
“It’s a massive game for us, they [Brighton] have done really well and obviously they’re unbeaten,” stated the former Manchester United centre back.
“We are only two points away from them though and if we beat them we’ll go above them, so we are looking to win the game and push on.
“At home with the fans behind us we feel like we will score goals, so if we defend like we did against Wolves then hopefully we will keep a clean sheet again.”
Vokes fit to face former club
Burnley striker Sam Vokes is set to hand Dyche a fitness boost ahead of the meeting, as he is expected to recover from injury in time to face his former employers. The Wales international is 23/10 to strike anytime on his possible return to action.
Boss Dyche stated: “We’re happy with Vokesey, it was a minor injury, but he’s trained well back with us, and the thinking is he’ll come back into contention for Brighton, he’ll be fine.”
In-form Andre Gray has dispatched 10 goals already this campaign for Burnley and is 7/4 for another anytime, while Brighton targetman Bobby Zamora is 13/2 to net last, having done so with winning goals over Leeds United and Bristol City last month.
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