Another early morning for those of us who both 1) love Burnley and 2) are in the United States. Please give us due credit for our dedication (note: I’m probably sleeping through at least the first half).
Whom:
Burnley vs. Newcastle
What:
EPL match number 31 for the Clarets
Where:
Turf Moor
When:
6:00 AM American Central Daylight Time
How to Watch:
Only on Peacock (almost definitely sleeping through the first half now).
What’s at Stake:
Burnley’s just trying to hang on to 15th and grow the gap between themselves and Fulham, the topmost team in relegation position, but 14th is a possibility, so we’ll include Southampton in the table. Here’s where things stand:
14. Southampton: 36 points, 30 matches played, -14 goal differential, play at West Brom Monday
15. Burnley: 33 points, 30 matches played, -16 goal differential
16. Brighton: 32 points, 30 matches played, -5 goal differential, host Everton Monday
17. Newcastle: 29 points, 30 matches played
18. Fulham: 26 points, 32 matches played
19. West Brom: 21 points, 30 matches played
20. Sheffield United: 14 points, 30 matches played
38 matches in a season, so I believe Burnley’s magic number is thirteen entering today, and the lowest it could be is nine exiting this weekend.
The Odds:
I’m seeing our guys at +135 to win and +210 to draw, with Newcastle at +240 to win. So almost a three-in-four chance Burnley gets a point, and about a two-in-five chance the Clarets grab a victory.
Burnley News:
There are some heavy Sean Dyche/Crystal Palace rumors right now, which is a bummer, but would probably happen after the season. Dyche seems, to my uneducated eyes, largely responsible for Burnley getting into and staying in the Premier League, and he’s also very lovable, so this would be a big blow and introduce both sadness and uncertainty into Burnley’s future. But as many changes of the sort do, it would probably also introduce some opportunity.
Erik Pieters and Phil Bardsley are back available after Pieters got hurt last weekend and Bardsley was out on bereavement leave. Ashley Barnes, Kevin Long, and Robbie Brady are all out with knocks.
Bertie News:
If you are a child, you can play footy with Bertie next weekend.
Oh, to be a child.
