Burnley will welcome Middlesbrough to Turf Moor on Saturday, as the Clarets aim for a third straight Championship win.
Vincent Kompany’s team is in first place in the Championship and needs to continue its winning form to ensure Sheffield United do not overtake it in the title race this weekend.
We're all excited to be back home this weekend 🤩 pic.twitter.com/QJMLfkxYGf— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) December 15, 2022
We're all excited to be back home this weekend 🤩 pic.twitter.com/QJMLfkxYGf
Middlesbrough are 12th in the standings, but don’t let that distract you. The Boro are in form with five straight matches ending without a defeat in the Championship. Three consecutive Middlesbrough matches ended as wins.
The Boro are just four points off the top six. Manager Michael Carrick took charge of the team on October 24th after Chris Wilder was sacked.
Carrick has resurrected the team’s season, as Middlesbrough were set to fight relegation under Wilder. Wilder was sacked on October 3rd with Middlesbrough 22nd in the league.
Eleven matchdays later the Boro are 12th and have a chance to close the gap on the top six on Saturday.
Burnley are the form team in the Championship, however. The Clarets took 15 points from the last six games in the league, scoring 14 goals and conceding eight.
Kompany is showing that Burnley do not have to play defensive, physical, and bland football to contend with the top teams. Instead, Burnley can play possession-based football with a focus on passing and creating chances.
Burnley lead the league in possession with 60.2% per game. Middlesbrough are fifth in possession with 54.1% of the ball per match. Middlesbrough will likely concede possession to Burnley on Saturday and look to hit them on the counterattack.
The Clarets are the Championship’s best home team with seven wins and four draws from 11 games. Middlesbrough aren’t great on the road overall. But since the departure of Wilder, their away form has improved. Carrick has Middlesbrough on a three-game away win streak.
Middlesbrough are led in goals by attacking midfielder Chuba Akpom. He has nine goals this season He is likely to start behind central striker Marcus Forss.
Burnley have a few injury concerns as Ashley Westwood, Scott Twine, Jay Rodriguez, and Darko Churlinov are all nursing injuries. Rodriguez could be a game-time decision.
He leads Burnley in goals with nine but didn’t play the full match last week against QPR, as the Clarets won 3-0.
Middlesbrough are on an upward trajectory, but on Saturday, they will run into the Championship’s top team. Burnley should post a win at full-time with a 2-0 score at Turf Moor.