Facing point critical scraps as the battle for the Premier League spot heats up, Burnley will host Sunderland on Friday night, in the Championship match to be held at Turf Moor.
These Clarets are unbeaten at their backyard as they prepare for the matches against the Black Cats who are among the surprise packets heading into the top-tier of the second tier this season.
Having seen much festive action in the physical frenzy of second tier football, Burnley set aside their Championship business for a second to last Saturday afternoon to book their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup, albeit a hard fought victory over League One Reading was not easy sailing for Scott Parker’s side.
Despite a first goal since August by Lyle Foster and Lewis Wing’s equaliser for the Royals in the second half, the game went on to the extra time where flying Dutchman Flemming scored two fantastic goals to set up the tie at struggling Premier League side Southampton in early February.
In league games only, Burnley is enjoying a current run of 13 matches unbeaten in English second division football, which places Parker’s team in the second position on the Championship with 73 points on the board, eight points behind Leeds United but one point ahead of third placed Sheffield United.
Having let in just nine goals in 26 second-tier encounters so far, the Clarets have been even better in the backline, and that trend rises even higher if only looking at home encounters, where Burnley has managed to concede just four goals in their dozen games at their home ground Turf Moor.
One could argue that Burnley would be outright favourites to win the Championship if they signed an influential center forward, though the aforementioned Parker and co relies on the goalscoring prowess of midfielder Josh Brownhill who has scored nine goals in the league so far.
With the youngest team in the division and fresh off a 16th-place finish the previous season, Sunderland has undoubtedly established themselves as a surprise force at the top of the Championship scene. Regis Le Bris is aiming for promotion to the Premier League after being relegated with French team Lorient in 2023–24.
After a sad afternoon on Wearside last time out, where goals from transfer target Tom Cannon and Niall Ennis clinched a 2-1 victory for Stoke City at the Stadium of Light in the FA Cup, the Black Cats will not be distracted in their pursuit of a top-flight berth.
With a relatively easier run ahead until May, Sunderland currently sit in 4th place in the Championship, just two points behind Burnley, who are in second. They're a solid 11 points clear of Blackburn Rovers in 7th.
Aside from a disappointing FA Cup loss to Stoke, Sunderland has kicked off the new year on a high note, picking up two consecutive Championship wins at the Stadium of Light, including a 2-1 victory over Sheffield United, a key promotion contender.
After a tough 2023-24 season, where they only gathered 24 away points, Sunderland has turned things around this season, already accumulating 19 points from 13 away games. Only Burnley (28), Sheffield United (25), and Leeds (21) have earned more points on the road so far.
