Sports Mole previews Tuesday’s Championship clash between Burnley and Coventry City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Scott Parker‘s Burnley are set to host strugglers Coventry City at Turf Moor on Tuesday in their 17th match of the Championship season.
The Clarets enjoyed another victory on the weekend after defeating Bristol City 1-0 on Saturday and are fourth in the second tier with 30 points, while their opponents are 17th with 17 points and are yet to appoint a permanent manager after sacking Mark Robins on November 7.
Match preview
The hosts played out an even first half against Bristol despite taking the lead thanks to Jaidon Anthony in the 23rd minute, but Burnley’s quality ultimately shone through, with the team limiting Bristol to just one open-play shot in the second half.
However, Parker’s side were forced deeper towards the end of the match, and the manager spoke of how he was relieved by the win, saying: “For 20 minutes in the second half we were as good as we want to be and had great chances to extend our lead. But there was a clear momentum swing after we missed the best of them and we ended up camped in our own half.”
The Clarets are just two points from the two automatic promotion spots at the top of the table, and are four points ahead of seventh-placed Watford, who are one place from the playoffs.
Burnley have scored 19 goals and conceded six times in the Championship, and these are the division’s joint 10th best offensive and best defensive records.
Parker’s team have encountered goalscoring issues in recent weeks, with the club having netted just three times in their last six games, a period in which they drew three, won two and lost one.
The hosts’ form at home has been strong considering they are unbeaten at Turf Moor in 2024-25, winning four and drawing three, though their victory against Bristol was their first in the past three matches.
© Imago
As for Coventry, they drew 2-2 with third-placed Sheffield United on November 23, though they may feel they could have earned more than a point given the Blades were reduced to 10 men in the 44th minute.
To caretaker boss Rhys Carr‘s credit, the draw was the second time they have held a team in the top three to a stalemate in their last two outings having also drawn 2-2 with second-placed Sunderland on November 9.
Former Derby County, Chelsea and Everton head coach Frank Lampard appears to be leading the race to replace Robins, but with no official confirmation regarding his appointment, Carr is set to lead the team out on Tuesday.
The Sky Blues picked up just eight points in their first 10 league games of the season, but they are in good form having picked up nine points in their last six matches, winning two, drawing three and only losing one.
However, while Carr will be pleased that his players are unbeaten in their three most recent away fixtures in the Championship, he will no doubt be concerned that his team were defeated in five and drew three of their prior eight outings on the road.
Burnley Championship form:
Coventry City Championship form:
Team News
© Imago
Burnley have an extensive injury list and will be without the likes of Aaron Ramsey until late December, though midfielder Josh Brownhill is only expected to miss out for a few days due to a knock.
Parker has numerous absentees in defence, including left-back Hannes Delcroix, as well as centre-backs Hjalmar Ekdal, Joe Worrall and Jordan Beyer, so perhaps Connor Roberts, CJ Egan-Riley, Maxime Esteve and Lucas Pires will start in a back four.
Forwards Lyle Foster, Manuel Benson and Mike Tresor are all ruled out until early next month, and this could mean that Jay Rodriguez continues to lead the forward line in front of a supporting cast of Jaidon Anthony, Hannibal Mejbri and Luca Koleosho.
Coventry have considerably fewer injury concerns but will still be unable to select goalkeeper Ben Wilson, as well as forwards Haji Wright and Raphael Borges Rodrigues.
The visitors are likely to field Victor Torp and Norman Bassette as a pairing in attack, while Bradley Collins may be protected by centre-backs Joel Latibeaudiere, Bobby Thomas and Luis Binks.
Midfielder Josh Eccles is suspended and wing-back Jay Dasilva is a doubt, so expect Jake Bidwell to replace Dasilva and for Carr to select a midfield three consisting of Jamie Allen, Ben Sheaf and Jack Rudoni.
Burnley possible starting lineup:
Trafford; Roberts, Egan-Riley, Esteve, Pires; Cullen, Massengo; Anthony, Mejbri, Koleosho; Rodriguez
Coventry City possible starting lineup:
Collins; Latibeaudiere, Thomas, Binks; Van Ewijk, Allen, Sheaf, Rudoni, Bidwell; Torp, Bassette
We say: Burnley 1-1 Coventry City
Given Burnley’s resilience at home this term, it is difficult to see them losing on Tuesday at Turf Moor.
However, the hosts have struggled for goals of late, and they come up against a Coventry side that have snatched valuable points against the division’s best.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
