Five reasons why Burnley should progress to Wembley

Reading/Burnley, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

1. Just one of the last ten Championship teams to have taken a first-leg lead in the play-offs have failed to reach the final (Ipswich against West Ham in 04).

2. If an aggregate score was taken from the two Reading/Burnley league clashes, the Royals would have won. However, in two of the last three seasons the side in the fourth-versus-fifth play-off that has had the worst of the league showdowns has triumphed.

3. Reading have won just six of their last 24 games and haven’t won any of their last eight at the Madejski - losing four of the last six.

4. Whereas Burnley are ending the season on good form having lost just one of their last 12. A draw is enough for them to progress.

5. The Clarets have lost just three of their last eight away games against Reading in league competition.

Posted: May 12th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 2 Comments

Sheff Utd are 3.1 on Betfair to maintain their great away run

Burnley/Sheff Utd, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Since January 31, Sheffield United and Burnley have averaged more points per game than any other teams in the Championship, making this match a clash between the division’s two form sides. It’s a massively important one too as Burnley need three points to extend their advantage over Swansea and Preston while Sheffield United need at least a point to realistically maintain their chances of automatic promotion. Here are five stats about tonight’s huge Championship match:

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1. Sheffield United are unbeaten in fifteen away league games.

2. However, Burnley are yet to lose a home game against a fellow top six side, having held Birmingham and Cardiff and beaten Reading and Wolves.

3. The Blades have the best away defence in the league, having conceded just 16 goals in 21 games on the road. They have conceded two or more on just three occasions.

Posted: April 20th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Five reasons why Arsenal will get some revenge on Burnley

Arsenal/Burnley, Sunday 1.30pm, Setanta Sports 1, Best Odds

Everyone was starting to believe that Arsenal’s youngsters were invincible and destined for Carling Cup glory until they went to Burnley and got knocked off their perch in December. Now Arsene Wenger is ready to use his big name players to gain revenge as Arsenal look to record consecutive wins for the first time since mid-January.

1. Arsenal have won eight of their nine home cup games this season and have conceded just one goal over the course of those games.

2. The Gunners haven’t lost a home FA Cup match for over twelve years, with their last defeat coming against Leeds in February 1997. They have hosted 28 games in the competition since.

3. Despite underperforming at the Emirates recently, Arsenal are brilliant when welcoming opposition from the North West. They have won five and drawn one of their six to date.

Posted: March 5th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment

Burnley go into FA Cup replay with West Brom as favourites

Click here for the latest odds on tonight’s fourth round replay

Burnley have triumphed in all five of their cup matches at Turf Moor this season (one after extra time) and picked up results against four Premier League teams in the Carling Cup. The bookmakers aren’t risking another loss so 888sport and Paddy Power have chalked the hosts up at 13/10 favourites.

West Brom reached the semi-finals last year but have won just two of their fourteen away games this season and are 23/10 with Bet365 to triumph. Of last year’s other semi-finalists, Portsmouth and Barnsley have already bowed out while Cardiff need to beat Arsenal at the Emirates to progress.

Prior to the 2-2 draw at the Hawthorns in the initial tie, the hosts had won four straight meetings between the teams, again offering Burnley an edge.

Posted: February 3rd, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Why Burnley should bow out of the Carling Cup with pride

Burnley/Tottenham, 8pm, Sky Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Anyone hoping to see Tottenham suffer the humiliation of having their 4-1 advantage overturned will probably be left disappointed. Even at their worst this season Spurs have yet to lose a game by more than two goals.

The last time they lost by a margin of three goals or greater was last March when Newcastle, yes Newcastle, thrashed them 4-1 at White Hart Lane, and even a defeat of that margin would only be enough to take the game to extra time and penalties.

Posted: January 21st, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Tottenham versus Burnley: The Key Facts

Tottenham/Burnley, 8pm, Sky Sports 1, Best Odds, Free Bets

chickendinner have already told you that Tottenham’s impressive recent record in cup competitions makes an upset unlikely tonight but here are some more interesting statistics to help you gamble on the first leg at White Hart Lane:

» The two sides have met four times in the League Cup, with both teams progressing on two occasions each.

» 12 of the last 13 encounters between the two sides finished with more than 2.5 goals.

Posted: January 6th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment