Burnley v Aston Villa preview

Burnley: Fine home form

PREDICTIONS:

Skysports.com prediction: 1-0

SKY BET odds: Burnley 9/4 Draw 9/4 Aston Villa 5/4

One to Watch: Graham Alexander

Related links

Teams

• Aston Villa
• Burnley

Also see

• Burnley fixtures
• Burnley stats
• Super 6: Win £100k

Burnley welcome Aston Villa to Turf Moor on Saturday looking to continue their fine home form which has seen the Clarets take the Premier League by storm.

Owen Coyle's men are unbeaten in their last two matches and will look to extend that run to three when Villa arrive in Lancashire.

All five of Burnley's wins have come at home this season, and the Premier League newcomers will eye three more points on Saturday.

Coyle's side will go into the match buoyed by their 3-3 draw at big-spending Manchester City, where they picked up their first away point of the season.

Manchester United and Everton have suffered defeats at Turf Moor, but Villa come into the match on the back of a 5-1 thrashing of Bolton.

Martin O'Neill's side have lost just once in their last six outings - a 2-1 reverse at West Ham, where they were felled by a last-minute goal from Zavon Hines.

Villa are well poised to mount a challenge to the top four and secure a UEFA Champions League berth, lying just one point behind fourth-placed Tottenham going into the match.

Team news

Burnley have a clean bill of health ahead of the clash, and Coyle could name the same side that drew with Manchester City before the international break.

Brian Jensen should continue in goal after recovering from an ankle injury, but Coyle will be without midfielder Chris McCann.

Jay Rodriguez and Martin Paterson are still some weeks away from full fitness and will miss out, meaning Robbie Blake will partner Steven Fletcher in attack.

Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov will return to the squad after serving a one match ban.

The midfielder missed the 5-1 win over Bolton after picking up five bookings and could come in for Nigel Reo-Coker.

O'Neill will be boosted by the return of defender James Collins and striker Emile Heskey, who could feature after making good progress in their recoveries.

Wilfred Bouma (ankle) remains a long term doubt, but summer signing Stewart Downing is back in training following a lengthy lay-off with a broken foot.

Possible starting XIs

Burnley: Jensen, Mears, Carlisle, Caldwell, Jordan, Eagles, Bikey, Alexander, Elliott, Blake, Fletcher.

Aston Villa: Friedel, Luke Young, Cuellar, Dunne, Warnock, Milner, Petrov, Sidwell, Ashley Young, Carew, Agbonlahor.