PL PREVIEW: Aston Villa v Burnley

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Build-up as the Clarets aim to extend impressive away run at Villa Park

2020-12-17T14:40:30.928Z

PL PREVIEW: Aston Villa v Burnley

Build-up as the Clarets aim to extend impressive away run at Villa Park

2020-12-17T14:40:30.928Z

Build-up as the Clarets aim to extend impressive away run at Villa Park

PL PREVIEW: Aston Villa v Burnley - Image 1

The Clarets hit the road for the second time in five days as they bid to make it back-to-back wins to climb back out of the bottom three and potentially as high as 16th in the table.

Sean Dyche’s men – who also have a game in hand on most of the sides around them – face a Villa team which made a flying start to the season, but which has stuttered at home over the last two months to lose some of their momentum.

Burnley’s own form is improving, with seven points from the last 12 giving some momentum to a campaign which hit a fresh peak with Sunday night’s 1-0 win at Arsenal.

And they will be looking to back that up by securing successive wins for the first time since June.

“We’ve had a few challenges but we’re returning to some kind of form with a good little run of results and clean sheets, which is always favourable,” said Dyche, whose side has conceded in only one of their last four away games.

Updated ticket information for our trip to Villa Park

“I don’t think we’ve lacked confidence, but it just enhances confidence when you’re winning games.

“Two wins, two draws and a loss in the last five is a fair reflection on the improvement in the way we’ve been performing.

“No game is easy but we’re finding our own form a little bit. We know we can compete across the Premier League because we’ve shown that over many seasons now.

“We’ve got to turn up and deliver and I think recently we have been doing that.

“This is another chance for us to deliver a performance we can get something from the game with.”

Team news

The Clarets will still be without midfielder Jack Cork, who returned to action in the Under-23s on Monday but will need more game time.

Winger Johann Berg Gudmundsson may also not be involved but Dale Stephens and Phil Bardsley could travel after also stepping up their match fitness in the PL2 win over Reading.

PL PREVIEW: Aston Villa v Burnley - Image 3

Villa could welcome back former Clarets captain Tom Heaton, with the goalkeeper fit again following the knee injury he sustained at Turf Moor on New Year’s Day.

Midfielder Douglas Luiz and defender Matty Cash both serve one-match bans, while striker David Trezeguet is out with a hamstring injury and Wesley is still to return from the knee injury he sustained at Burnley last season.

However, the Villains may have on-loan Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley back from injury after two games out.

Form guide

The Clarets – who slipped back into the bottom three on goal difference after Wednesday night’s results – are looking to make it successive league wins for the first time this season following Sunday night’s success at Arsenal.

Sean Dyche’s side has lost just one of their last five games and just one of their last four away games.

Burnley have kept clean sheets in three of their last four away fixtures. Aston Villa are 11th in the table after six wins so far – including a 1-0 victory at Wolves thanks to a last-gasp penalty last time out.

However, just two of their wins have come at Villa Park and Dean Smith’s side has lost three in a row at home since beating Liverpool 7-2 at the start of October.

The Midlanders are yet to draw in the Premier League this season.

Opposition camp

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith: “They’ve obviously not had the start to the season that Sean (Dyche) would have wanted for them.

PL PREVIEW: Burnley v Aston Villa - Image 3

“But you just look at their last four of five performances, bar the Manchester City one, they’ve been performing well and very difficult to play against, very difficult to score against and got a deserved win in the end at Arsenal.”

Match stats

The Clarets have won six times away from home in 2020 – their highest tally in a top-flight campaign since eight away wins in 1965.

Captain Ben Mee will make his 300th league start for the Clarets. His first came against a Watford side managed by Sean Dyche in August 2011.