Looking to extend their unbeaten run in the Championship to nine matches, Burnley will host relegation-threatened Queens Park Rangers at Turf Moor for a second-tier clash on Saturday afternoon.
The Clarets managed a respectable share of the spoils at Hull City earlier in the week, whilst the R's fought back to earn a point against Coventry City in the capital.
Match preview
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After the torment of Premier League relegation under the stewardship of Vincent Kompany last season, Burnley have made a highly-respectable start to their quest for Championship promotion, with Saturday's hosts currently enjoying an eight-match unbeaten streak in the division.
It appeared as if the Clarets were hurtling towards their first defeat in the second tier since late August at the home of Hull on Wednesday night when Xavier Simons fired Tim Walter's Tigers into the lead, but an exceptional late header from Millwall loanee Zian Flemming spared the visitors' blushes.
Losing just one of their first 11 matches back this level following a bottom-three finish in the Premier League during 2023-24, Burnley are currently occupying second place in the Championship table, three points behind early pacesetters Sunderland and level on points with third-placed Leeds United.
Collecting 11 points from their opening five contests at Turf Moor this campaign, the Clarets will be looking to extend their unbeaten run at their Lancashire base to six matches this weekend, although they have hardly been convincing at the venue in recent times, narrowly earning wins over the likes of Plymouth Argyle and Portsmouth.
With Lyle Foster on the sidelines for Burnley at the moment, influential midfielder Josh Brownhill has stepped up to the attacking plate for Saturday's hosts, with the 28-year-old enforcer bagging five goals and one assist across his first 11 Championship appearances this term.
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Following a woeful four-match losing run in the Championship, basement dwellers QPR picked up their first positive result in the division in over a month on Tuesday night, when fellow strugglers Coventry arrived at Loftus Road and could only return to the East Midlands with a point.
It appeared as if the Sky Blues were set to continue the R's Loftus Road woes when American marksman Haji Wright propelled Mark Robins's men ahead after just four minutes, but a second-half effort from summer arrival Kieran Morgan forced a share of the points.
Winning just one of their first 11 matches in this season's edition of the second tier, QPR are languishing down in 23rd position in the Championship standings ahead of a daunting weekend trip to Turf Moor, three points behind Plymouth in the relative safety of 21st.
Despite only Swansea City, Preston North End and Plymouth scoring fewer goals in the Championship so far this campaign, the R's possess players who are capable of causing serious problems for second-tier defences, including Ilias Chair and Brest loanee Karamoko Dembele, who lit up League One at Blackpool during 2023-24.
QPR will be looking to repeat their Turf Moor antics under former head coach Gareth Ainsworth in April 2023, when the capital club ended Burnley's unbeaten run at their Lancashire fortress in the 2022-23 campaign courtesy of strikes from Sam Field and Chris Martin, resulting in a 2-1 victory.
Team News
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After making a positive impact off the bench at Hull on Wednesday night, summer signing Josh Laurent should regain his spot in the Burnley XI this weekend.
Hannibal Mejbri is a ball of energy in midfield but does not provide the attacking qualities required for a number 10, so the Tunisia international is likely to be dropped on Saturday.
Providing a goal contribution in back-to-back matches since returning from the international break, Jaidon Anthony will be looking to continue his impressive form on the left flank.
QPR remain without the services of former Newcastle United and Sunderland midfielder Jack Colback, who is expected back next month from a leg injury.
The R's options at centre-back are restricted by the absence of Liam Morrison, although the visitors could still continue with a back five.
Burnley possible starting lineup:
Trafford; Roberts, Egan-Riley, Esteve, Pires; Cullen, Laurent, Brownhill; Koleosho, Anthony, Flemming
Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:
Nardi; Smyth, Dunne, Cook, Clarke-Salter, Saito; Dembele, Varane, Field, Chair; Celar
We say: Burnley 1-0 Queens Park Rangers
Striving to make it nine matches unbeaten in the Championship, Burnley should be confident of putting a struggling QPR side to the sword at Turf Moor.
The R's improved in the second half versus Coventry to snatch a point, but we cannot envisage the visitors earning anything for their efforts in Lancashire on Saturday.
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Carter White
