The Championship league leaders Burnley are back in action on Friday evening and they host Sunderland, a team that have slipped to mid table in the past few weeks.
Burnley Form GuideAfter a run where they found themselves drawing a couple of games, Burnley have sprung back to life in the Championship, winning their last two games with ease. Promotion seems a formality for them, and in the race for the league title, they are 13 points clear of Sheffield United in second place.
Before the international break, Burnley won 3-1 away at Hull and 3-0 at home to Wigan, not only six points, but two very impressive wins. Nine games remain and stand between Burnley and an instant return to the Premier League, and it seems only a matter of time before that is confirmed.
Sunderland Form GuideA team that were once in the playoff hunt, and with a chance of back to back promotions are now in the middle of the Championship, with little to play for. Eight games to go, they are seven points off the playoffs, which seems a big ask at this stage, and it's all be down to a recent run of poor form.
They come in here with one win and one draw from their last six games, four defeats in that period. The win came against Norwich away from home, but generally its been poor. Before the international break, they picked up a point in a 1-1 draw with Luton, a team up in the playoff battle.
Match PredictionA game that Burnley will fancy their chances of winning, and that is exactly what I think they'll do. Before the international break, they looked like a side back at their best, winning games and edging closer to promotion. Sunderland are on the slide, have been poor for a few weeks now, and with that in mind, it's a Burnley win here.
