PL PREVIEW: Burnley v Wolves

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Build-up as the Clarets look to deliver festive cheer and pull themselves clear

2020-12-21T11:38:53.766Z

PL PREVIEW: Burnley v Wolves

Build-up as the Clarets look to deliver festive cheer and pull themselves clear

2020-12-21T11:38:53.766Z

Build-up as the Clarets look to deliver festive cheer and pull themselves clear

The Clarets return to Turf Moor with the chance to be out of the bottom three by Christmas Day.

After taking four points from successive away trips to Arsenal and Aston Villa, Burnley will be looking for a second home win of the season to move up to 16th place in the table.

A point against mid-table Wolves will be enough to lift Sean Dyche’s men out of the drop zone before the next round of fixtures which sees the Clarets go to Leeds United on 27 December.

But after piecing together an impressive run which has seen them lose just once since Chelsea left Turf Moor with the points at the end of October, the Clarets are keen to add to their win tally to make significant progress away from the foot of the table.

“We’ve strung a few performances together and a couple of clean sheets and put points on the board, so let’s hope we’re in a good place going into this run of fixtures,” said goalkeeper Nick Pope, who has been beaten only once in five games.

“We don’t want to rest on our laurels. It’s a good return off the last few games, but I feel like we’ve still got more in us.

“It’s about taking the momentum and adding to our game to get those wins on the board.”

Team news

The Clarets are likely to have a similar squad to that which featured in Thursday night’s 0-0 draw at Aston Villa.

Phil Bardsley was back on the bench at Villa Park but midfielders Jack Cork and Dale Stephens will be given more game time before returning to Premier League duty.

And winger Johann Berg Gudmundsson is also being given longer to build up his fitness following a hamstring problem.

BARDSLEY: It's A Club You Want To Be At - Image 2

Wolves will be with striker Raul Jimenez (their joint leading scorer who scored in both of last season’s 1-1 draws with Burnley) as he recovers from a fractured skull.

Defender Jonny is also still out and the visitors will check on midfielder Leander Dendoncker and defender Willy Boly after picking up knocks in Wolves’ win over Chelsea.

But Portuguese international midfielder Joao Moutinho is available again following suspension

Form guide

The Clarets – 18th in the table – are unbeaten in three games and have lost just one of their last six fixtures.

They have taken four points from their last two games at Turf Moor and have conceded goals in only two of their last four games.

Wolves are 11th in the league following the weekend’s games and won last time out with a 2-1 home victory over Chelsea almost a week ago.

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That success – sealed with a last-minute goal from Pedro Neto – followed back-to-back defeats for the Midlanders.

But before that, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side had lost just once in seven Premier League games.

Wolves are yet to draw away with three wins and three losses to date.

Opposition camp

Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo: “They’re very tough. Burnley are a good team, create a lot of problems, a physical team with good possession of the ball.

“They’re very compact, have talented players in midfield and up front. It’s a very demanding challenge for us on Monday.”

Match stats

Clarets winger Robbie Brady is set to make 150th Premier League appearance. His top-flight games have been for Burnley (70), Norwich City (36) and Hull City (43).