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Burnley logo
Championship
Jan 18, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Sheffield Wednesday logo

1-1

Vokes (43')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Maguire (45')

Preview: Burnley vs. Sheffield Wednesday

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between high-flying Burnley and in-form Sheffield Wednesday.

Burnley could close the gap at the top of the Championship table to just one point with a victory over Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

The Clarets will start their match already knowing how league leaders Leicester City got on in the early kickoff, but whatever the result from the Foxes' game, three points will be vital for Burnley.

Anything less than a victory could see them slip out of the automatic promotion spots, depending on the result in Queens Park Rangers' game against Huddersfield Town.

Sean Dyche's side have lost just once in their last eight league matches, while their record of just three defeats all season is the best in the Championship.

The Burnley boss has new signing Ashley Barnes available for selection, but he may have to make do with a place on the bench for the second week in a row having featured for just two minutes in the victory over Yeovil Town last Saturday.

He could be joined on the bench by Ross Wallace, who returned from injury for the Under-21s last week but is not thought to be fit enough to play from the start just yet.

Burnley are the only unbeaten team at home in the Championship this season, with their last league defeat at Turf Moor coming 16 matches ago to Hull City in March, but they will face a Wednesday team full of confidence.

The Owls will still be flying following their memorable 6-0 victory over Yorkshire rivals Leeds United last weekend, and that result could be the catalyst for them to put distance between themselves and the relegation zone.

They are currently just four points clear of the bottom three, but have experienced an upturn in form under caretaker manager Stuart Gray, who has guided the side to a six-match unbeaten streak.

Their last outing saw them continue their fine goalscoring form, albeit against non-league Macclesfield Town as they progressed into the FA Cup fourth round with a 4-1 victory.

They will still be without Rafael Floro and Anthony Gardner for the match, while Caolan Lavery is expected to be named on the bench despite his brace against Leeds last weekend.

Recent form

Burnley: WLDWLW

Sheff Weds: DDWDWW

Possible starting lineups

Burnley: Heaton; Tripper, Shackell, Duff, Lafferty; Jones, Marney, Arfield, Ings, Treacy; Vokes

Sheff Weds: Kirkland; Palmer, Loovens, Llera, Johnson; Maguire, Semedo, Maghoma, Lee; Wickham, Nuhiu

Sports Mole says: 2-1


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Written by
Barney Corkhill
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd22155232112148
2Leeds UnitedLeeds22136341152645
3Burnley2212822891944
4Sunderland22127334181643
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2111462518737
6Middlesbrough22105738281035
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom22811326161035
8Watford2110473028234
9Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds229582830-232
10Millwall217772118328
11Swansea CitySwansea227692424027
12Bristol City226972628-227
13Norwich CityNorwich226883734326
14Queens Park RangersQPR2251072328-525
15Luton TownLuton2274112538-1325
16Derby CountyDerby2266102728-124
17Coventry CityCoventry2266102834-624
18Preston North EndPreston2241172229-723
19Stoke CityStoke2257102330-722
20Portsmouth204882535-1020
21Hull City2247112131-1019
22Cardiff CityCardiff2146111934-1518
23Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2146112137-1618
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2146112245-2318


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