Eng. Championship
2012-02-14 - Burnley vs Barnsley
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Championship
Tuesday 14 February 2012 - Kick Off 7:45pm
Burnley
After a good run of form, Burnley have had a couple of disappointing results to stem their run towards the Play Offs, although Eddie Howe will be more than aware that there is still plenty of time for them to get involved in that with 16 games left to play.
The side were beaten 2-0 at Southampton over the weekend and that means they have dropped back down to 11th in the Championship table. Burnley have gained 44 points so far this season, and that leaves them just 6 points behind 3rd placed Birmingham City in a congested League table. They will want to improve their form at Turf Moor if they are to make the Play Offs, currently going 5-5-5 there, scoring 23 goals and conceding 16.
Burnley had lost just 1 of their previous 8 games in the Championship before the loss at St Mary's, picking up 17 points from a possible 24 to start rocketing up the table. They have drawn their last 2 games at Turf Moor, but had won 3 of their previous 4 League games in front of their own fans.
Martin Paterson and Danny Ings will both have late fitness tests to determine their availability for this fixture. Junior Stanislas is definitely ruled out.
Barnsley
Barnsley were due to host Birmingham City at the weekend, but their game was called off due to a frozen pitch. The team continue to punch above their weight in this Division as the pre-season favourites for relegation look set to maintain their status as a Championship club.
The Tykes were moved down to 15th in the Championship table as they didn't play at the weekend, but they have already earned 39 points so far this season which leaves them with a healthy buffer to those teams in the relegation zone. They will bring a respectable 4-4-6 record to Turf Moore from their travels so far this season, scoring 16 goals and conceding 22 in those games.
Barnsley have not been involved in a draw since the end of September, although they have been on the wrong end of recent results. The team have lost 7 of their last 10 games in all competitions and come into this one having lost 3 of their last 4 away games in the Championship.
Keith Hill has a full squad to choose from in this game.
Head to Head
Barnsley recorded a 2-0 win over Burnley at Oakwell earlier this season.
Burnley beat Barnsley 3-0 here last season, and have now won 4 of their last 5 home games against the Tykes in all competitions.
Prediction
Barnsley have been involved in some really high-scoring games of late and I think we could see another one in this game at Burnley with both sides expecting to pick up points from the game.
Burnley have drawn their last two games at Turf Moor, but have been in good form recently despite losing to Southampton last time out. They were unfortunate to be held to a 1-1 draw against Peterborough United here in their last home game and you know Barnsley will offer them plenty of chances with the way they have been defending in recent weeks.
However, the Barnsley attack has really been clicking, although they will not have Ricardo Vaz Te, who was sold to West Ham in the transfer window, up front anymore. The Tykes have scored and conceded in their last 5 games in all competitions, and there have been 21 goals scored between themselves and their opponents in those games.
The last 6 games between the sides before the 2-0 at Oakwell earlier this season have all seen at least 3 goals scored in each. To make me feel a little stronger with my pick, the last 7 games at Turf Moor between the teams has also seen at least 3 goals scored between them.
I am expecting both sides to get on the scoreboard here and I do think one of them will be strong enough to grab the win. Therefore, the Overs makes sense to me.
The Pick :
Burnley 2-1 Barnsley
