Stoke City vs Burnley. Premier League.
Bet365 StadiumAttendance27,306.
Saturday 3 December 2016 15:14, UK
Tom Heaton is a doubt for Burnley as they look to improve their poor Premier League away form on Saturday, against Stoke.
The Clarets, who have won just one point on the road in the Premier League this season, are likely to turn to 37-year-old Paul Robinson for the second successive game as Heaton is rated as "touch and go" by manager Sean Dyche.
Heaton missed last weekend's defeat to Manchester City with a calf injury, meaning former England international Robinson made his first top-flight appearance in four years.
"I'm not going to make a drastic decision on it or one where I think it's going to put him [Heaton] at risk," said Dyche. "On the other hand, if he says 'I'm absolutely clear', that will be a different conversation."
Stoke's bet365 Stadium was the site of Burnley's first away victory in their top-flight campaign two years ago.
But the Potters have been in good form lately, winning four of their last six matches to climb the table after a slow start to the season.
Stoke have midfielder Joe Allen back from suspension, while Glenn Whelan is likely to be fit after missing last weekend's win over Watford with a calf injury.
Captain Ryan Shawcross (calf) remains a doubt and knee injuries keep Geoff Cameron and Phil Bardsley sidelined.
Johann Berg Gudmundsson is out for Burnley with a hamstring injury, but Dean Marney could be available after suffering a nerve problem.
Since beating Burnley 2-0 in their first ever Premier League meeting in 2009, Stoke are winless in the last three (D2 L1).
The Clarets have won just one of their last seven league games against Stoke City, though this was away at Stoke in November 2014.
Before losing against Burnley in their most recent Premier League meeting in 2014/15, Stoke had gone six matches unbeaten against them on home soil in top-flight league competition (W5 D1).
No Premier League side has outrun their opponents in more matches this season than Burnley (12 of 13) - level with Liverpool.
Only Liverpool (five) and this week's opponents Burnley (five) have netted more Premier League goals from outside the box this campaign than the Potters (four).
Only Chelsea (21), Liverpool (20) and Arsenal (18) have won more points across their last eight games than Stoke City (15).
Burnley have scored just five goals in their last 14 Premier League matches on the road and never more than once in a game in this run.
I don't go against Stoke at home. Burnley rarely get the ball into dangerous areas away from home and don't create too many chances. Meanwhile, Stoke's team is full of creative players that love to play in the games like this. I can't see anything other than a home win.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (6/1 with Sky Bet - Most popular Super 6 selection: 26 per cent predict 2-0)
Stoke are odds-on favourites for all three points when they play host to Burnley this weekend. The Potters got back on the winning trail at Watford last time and are 8/13 to follow up with another win at the Britannia. The Clarets have been struggling on the road all season and are priced at 9/2 for a first away win of the season in the Premier League. Stoke pair Wilfried Bony and Marko Arnautovic top the first goalscorer betting at 9/2.
Stoke v Burnley is part of this weekend's Soccer Saturday Super 6 line-up, with £250,000 up for grabs. Enter your predictions here.
