Burnley v Palace

Turf Moor, Saturday 3.00pm

Alan Pardew

Story so far

Burnley will come into this weekend’s fixtures with confidence, having been buoyed by their results of late. Burnley are now undefeated in three, and picked up all three points last weekend at home to QPR and will be hoping to make it back to back home wins this time out.

Burnley will be reliant on their shot stopper this weekend, as Tom Heaton goes in search of his first clean sheet in six games. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, he has already made 69 saves this season, at an average of 2.09 saves per goal conceded. He will need to be on top form to keep out Palace’s attack.

In front of him, Kieran Trippier has been the most impressive member of the Burnley back line this year. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, he has already covered 217.2km this term, whilst also winning 33 tackles, making 81 clearances and 43 interceptions.

Up top, Danny Ings is really finding his feet as a Premier League striker and is consistently posing a threat. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index can reveal that he has converted six of his 17 shots on target, turning 35.3% of those shots in to goals. He is 5/3 to score anytime with 888sport.com.

Crystal Palace will come in to this game with just as much, if not more, confidence. They have also remained unbeaten in their last three fixtures, with a superb victory over Tottenham in their last outing. They will be looking to make it six points from six to avoid being leapfrogged by this weekend’s opponents.

Palace keeper Julien Speroni has also been in great form this season, as highlighted by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. He has racked up 50 saves this season, at an average of 1.61 saves per goal conceded. He will be hoping for another shut out this weekend to help boost that ratio even further.

Palace are looking threatening going forward at the moment, in particular with the talent of Dwight Gayle. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index can reveal that he has hit the back of the net three times this season, at an average of a goal every 176.6 minutes.

He has only needed six attempts to get his goals, converting 50% of his shots taken, and hitting the target with 83.3% of his shots. He is 14/5 to score anytime with 888sport.com.

Whilst Gayle is in great form, so is fellow striker Frazier Campbell. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index can reveal that he has also netted three times this season, from his 18 shots taken. He may prove a different type of threat, having hit a top speed of 34.3km/h.

Team news

Striker Yaya Sanogo, who this week joined on loan from Arsenal, could make his Eagles debut. Forward Marouane Chamakh (hamstring) is set to make a return, while midfielder James McArthur has overcome his foot injury.

Burnley defenders Kieran Trippier (hamstring) and Jason Shackell (calf) are available after shaking off injuries. Kevin Long (knee), Stephen Ward (ankle) and Matt Taylor (Achilles) are all missing.

Burnley (from): Heaton, Cisak, Gilks, Trippier, Mee, Keane, Shackell, Lafferty, Arfield, Marney, Boyd, Jones, Wallace, Kightly, Barnes, Vokes, Ings, Sordell, O'Neill, Reid, Jutkiewicz.

Palace (from): Speroni, Ward, Dann, Delaney, Kelly, Ledley, Puncheon, McArthur, Bannan, Gayle, Murray, Mariappa, Hangeland, Guediora, Campbell, Zaha, Kennessey, Thomas, Sanogo, Chamakh.

Facts and stats

- Already played this season 0-0 (only previous Prem League head-to-head)

- 6 of the last 7 head-to-heads went UNDER 2.5 goals

- Burnley are unbeaten in their last 7 homes games vs Palace

- Palace have won just once away in the league this season

- 6 of Burnley’s 11 home games in the league have been 0-0 at HT

- 6 of Palace’s 11 away games in the league have been 0-0 at HT

- 10 of Palace’s 11 away league games this season have been draws at HT

Quotes

Roy Hodgson

"I think Yaya is a player that needs first team games, and obviously he was limited at arsenal with all the competition that was in front of him. He comes to our club with a much more immediate chance of starting.

"And Wenger, who I spoke to, has a high regard for him and feels that it will be good for Arsenal for him to come here. So it’s a platform for him, no more than that, to see if his development is ready to be a Premier League player for Arsenal.

"His first two or three days' training have been very good, and we’re pleased to have him. He might not get a free run at it (the starting XI); he might have to go in and come out and go in and come out, whatever, come off the bench etc.

"But it’s certain he’ll get more game time here and get that confidence and I think he will be a good player for Arsenal, I really do think that."

Jason Puncheon

"Burnley is massive for us. It was a big three points at home against Spurs and going to a team around us, we need to beat them.

"The gaffer mentioned we’ve had three clean sheets on the road recently. It can be hostile place up there. e can sit there and worry about different things but we don’t need to with this group.

"I think we’ll go there and play our own game do what we need to do, which is three points."

Barry Bannan

"With the old manager it was more about keeping our shape and then pass to the wingers and hope they go forward and do something.

"That wasn’t working so we’ve been trying to press teams and having teams defend rather than us sitting back.

"Everyone in the dressing room would rather do that and score goals. The gaffer just wants me to try and make things happen for the team."

Burnley - league stats

Position	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
17th	21	4	8	9	20

Full league table

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
13/09/2014	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 0	Burnley
12/01/2013	League	Burnley	1 - 0	Crystal Palace
06/10/2012	League	Crystal Palace	4 - 3	Burnley
10/03/2012	League	Burnley	1 - 1	Crystal Palace
13/08/2011	League	Crystal Palace	2 - 0	Burnley

All time results

Last meeting

Palace 0-0 Burnley

Saturday September 13 2014

Palace: Speroni, Dann, Mariappa, Ward, Delaney, Puncheon, McArthur, Jedinak, Zaha (Bolasie, 69), Gayle (Williams, 75), Campbell (Doyle, 61)

Subs not used: Hennessey, Ledley, Fryers, Kelly

Bookings: Jedinak, Puncheon

Burnley: Heaton, Shackell, Duff, Mee, Trippier, Marney, Jones, Boyd, Arfield, Jutkiewicz, Ings (Sordell, 42)

Subs not used: Wallace, Long, Gilks, Barnes, Reid, Ward

Bookings: Sordell, Boyd, Ings