Bristol City vs Burnley predictions: Tight encounter likely to ensue

Ian Wilkerson

Spotlight

Scott Parker has Burnley in the hunt for promotion

- No Championship team have drawn more games than Bristol City this season
- Burnley are four points behind leaders Sunderland in their attempt to make an immediate Premier League return
- Recommended bet: Draw

Burnley are making a decent fist of fighting their way back into the Premier League and with just two defeats in their 15 Championship games since relegation, they will have high hopes of gaining ground at Bristol City’s expense on Saturday.

However, they will have to come out on top against a team who have lost just one of their last 10 league games and will be looking to bounce back from the 2-1 defeat they suffered to another relegated team, Sheffield United, in their last outing at Ashton Gate.

Team news

City winger Mark Sykes could be available after a knock and Scott Twine may be in the squad.

Meanwhile, Kai Naismith, Ross McCrorie, Sam Bell, Joe Williams and George Tanner are all ruled out.

Burnley forward Luca Koleosho was forced to pull out of the Italy Under-21 squad but his injury is not thought to be serious and he could still feature at Ashton Gate.

The stats

Liam Manning's Bristol City have been hard to beat this season

City have lost just one of their last 10 Championship matches and have drawn four of their last seven second-tier games at Ashton Gate.

Just one of Burnley’s last 13 league games has featured more than two goals.

Both teams have scored in just one of Burnley’s last seven away league outings.

The Clarets have kept four clean sheets in their last six Championship matches on the road.

The latest Bristol City vs Burnley odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Prediction

There were early signs that Burnley were perhaps destined to storm their way back into the Premier League after just two games when they posted a 4-1 victory at Luton and then thumped Cardiff 5-0 at Turf Moor.

However, they have scored just nine goals in their following 13 matches, which illustrates how good their defending has been that they emerge from the international break in fourth spot with four points to make up on leaders Sunderland.

Goals have been thin on the ground in their matches and it seems unlikely they will display the same free-flowing football in Saturday’s visit to Bristol City that generated those impressive opening two results.

The Clarets have had to share the spoils in six of their matches this season and their hosts can go even further as their tally of seven is the joint highest in the division.

The Robins have found difficulty in getting over the line, which means they still find themselves in mid-table even though they have been defeated on just three occasions this term.

One of those losses came in their last home clash against another team who were relegated last term, Sheffield United, so they should look to keep things tight again.

With goals likely to be scarce, the chances of a draw increase and it would not be a surprise if this showdown finished level.

Back the Draw at 15/8 with LiveScore Bet.