Week 31 – Burnley vs Newcastle – Sport Grill

Burnley welcome Newcastle United to Turf Moor in a relegation six-pointer in the opening match of Super Sunday’s quadruple header. 

Victory would lift Burnley up to 14th, whereas Newcastle can move six points clear of the relegation zone with a win.

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Kevin Long is set to return for Burnley after recovering from a calf injury that kept him away from international duty and last weekend’s defeat at Southampton.

Robbie Brady (Achilles), Erik Pieters and Ashley Barnes (both thigh) remain absent.

Newcastle will be without Jamaal Lascelles after the defender suffered a foot injury during last Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Tottenham.

Callum Wilson (hamstring) Allan Saint-Maximin (groin), Ryan Fraser (calf) and Andy Carroll (muscle) are in contention if pass fitness tests.

Fabian Schar and Isaac Hayden are ruled out with knee injuries.

Stat Attack

• Burnley have won just one of their last five matches against Newcastle (W1, D1, L3).
• Newcastle have won just one of four previous Premier League away trips to Turf Moor (W1, D1, L2), with both defeats coming by 1-0 results.
• Chris Wood has scored in each of Burnley’s last three matches.
• Steve Bruce’s Magpies have scored just once in their last four away games, courtesy of Allan Saint Maximin in a 3-1 loss at Man Utd in late February.
• Both of Burnley’s two home games refereed by Anthony Taylor this season have finished 1-1, with those draws coming against Everton and Brighton respectively.

Prediction

Burnley will certainly be kicking themselves for failing to claim at least a draw at Southampton after blowing their early two goal lead, yet they simply just lacked the fitness needed to cope with the Saints’ high energy runs despite attacking well themselves throughout.

Newcastle meanwhile endured a tricky start to their run-in but stuck in defensively to punish poor defensive play in their 2-2 draw against Tottenham, although they really need to win this game to give themselves belief in their survival bid given their poor away form of late.

I therefore am expecting a tough cagey contest here between two teams who know victory would certainly put them a major step closer towards safety, yet I feel that Burnley should edge this if can show same desire but defend better than they did at Southampton.

Prediction: Burnley 2-1 Newcastle

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