Burnley vs Middlesbrough. Premier League.
Turf MoorAttendance21,562.
Monday 26 December 2016 14:27, UK
Burnley can call upon the services of Johann Berg Gudmundsson for their home game against Middlesbrough on Boxing Day.
Iceland international winger Gudmundsson has been out since November with a hamstring injury he sustained against Manchester City but featured in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Preston in midweek.
For Middlesbrough, winger Viktor Fischer will miss the trip to Turf Moor after being ruled out for up to three weeks with a knee injury.
The former Ajax midfielder hobbled off the pitch during the first half of Boro's 3-0 Premier League victory over Swansea last Saturday and will miss the entire festive programme as he recovers.
Team news
Burnley will be without defender Matthew Lowton. He will serve a one-match suspension for picking up five cautions since the start of the season.
Boro boss Aitor Karanka hopes to have midfielder Cristhian Stuani (foot) fit, while full-back George Friend will push for a return to the starting line-up after appearing as a substitute against the Swans following a knee problem.
Opta stats
Burnley are winless in their last six league games against Middlesbrough, failing to score in four of those contests (D2 L4).
Boro have lost just one of their last seven visits to Turf Moor in the league (W3 D3).
This will be the first time Burnley and Middlesbrough will play each other in the top-flight since 1976.
Burnley have failed to score in their last three Boxing Day games, one of which was against Boro in 2013 (L3).
Middlesbrough have won their last five Boxing Day clashes without conceding a single goal.
This fixture pits the two sides with the fewest number of shots attempted in the Premier League so far in 2016/17: Middlesbrough (156) and Burnley (157).
Burnley have also allowed their opponents a division-high 111 shots on target in the Premier League so far this season.
Burnley have won a higher proportion of their points at home this season than any other side in the Premier League or Football League (94 per cent - 16 of 17).
Merson's predictions
Burnley are a force against anybody at home, they will give anyone a game. Arsenal scored the winner with the last kick of their game at Turf Moor, Man City left it late too, which goes to show how difficult they are to play against. I see them beating Middlesbrough, with Sam Vokes on target for Sean Dyche's men.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 10/1)
Betting
A tough match to call according to the odds with Middlesbrough marginal 6/4 favourites while Burnley and the draw can both be backed at 2/1. It's 5/2 for Burnley to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1. Middlesbrough's Alvaro Negredo heads the first goalscorer betting at 5/1, with Andre Gray and Sam Vokes both 6/1. Ashley Barnes, who opened the scoring in the 2-1 defeat at Spurs, can be backed at 13/2.
