Burnley vs Bristol City. The FA Cup Fourth Round.
Turf MoorAttendance14,921.
Saturday 28 January 2017 16:12, UK
Burnley trio Jeff Hendrick, Scott Arfield and Johann Berg Gudmundsson could return for Saturday's FA Cup visit of Bristol City.
Club record signing Hendrick has been suffering with a back injury while Arfield and Gudmundsson have had hamstring strings, but all three are possible contenders for a spot in the Clarets squad this weekend.
Sean Dyche's team have adapted well to life back in the Premier League, currently sitting 13th in the table, and while the manager is happy with his side, he says it provides no guarantee's for a victory on Saturday.
"I've been really pleased with the way the players are growing into a team that look right in the Premier League... Lots of people say to me it looks like a group who feel they belong in the Premier League, but of course that doesn't win you a match," he said.
On the other side, Bristol City are struggling in the Sky Bet Championship this season, but manager Lee Johnson thinks their underdog status this weekend will help their chances.
"I'm looking forward to going there and seeing if that release of pressure can help us play without fear," he told the club's official website.
"We'll be the underdogs and it would be nice to play with a bit of freedom. We have to believe we can go there and beat Premier League opponents. Why not?"
Dean Marney will be missing for Burnley after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament for the second time in two years and will not return this season.
Dyche made seven changes for the third-round replay against Sunderland and looks set to shuffle his pack again, with goalkeeper Nick Pope, defender James Tarkowski and midfielder Joey Barton likely to start.
For Bristol City, Johnson confirmed that 19-year-old Zak Vyner will start the game at Turf Moor while Gary O'Neil and Korey Smith will be sidelined.
Lee Tomlin will be assessed ahead of the game after coming down with an illness during the week. Adam Matthews and Mark Little are also set to miss out.
This will be the first time these sides have played in each other in the FA Cup.
Burnley beat Bristol City 4-0 in their last meeting, with Andre Gray grabbing a hat-trick.
The Robins have lost their last four games against Burnley, conceding 13 goals in the process.
The Clarets have not made it beyond the fourth round of the FA Cup since 2010/11.
Bristol City however haven't gone past round four since 2000/01.
Burnley have won six of their last seven FA Cup games against sides from lower down the league pyramid.
Bristol City are on their worst ever losing run in the league. Eight consecutive defeats is unbelievable, especially when you consider the team they have and how they were going at the start of the season. Burnley have got a better home record than both Manchester clubs so I can't see anything other than a home victory.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (13/2 with Sky Bet)
