Championship | Gameweek 37

Mar 11, 2025 at 7.45pm UK

Turf Moor

Burnley vs West Brom

Match preview

Making the most of Kal Naismith's early dismissal for two bookable offences, Burnley's unbeaten run in the Championship reached a remarkable 23 games on Saturday afternoon as Scott Parker's merciless men beat Luton 4-1.

Mark McGuinness' own goal kicked off the rout before Lyle Foster, Josh Brownhill and Ashley Barnes - who scored his first Championship goal of the season - all got in on the act against the Hatters, who, according to a beaming Parker, were being "starved of oxygen".

Proving that the 3-0 FA Cup defeat to Preston North End was a one-off, six points from six against Cardiff City and, most recently, Luton has left the Clarets just two points behind Sheffield United and leaders Leeds United in the Championship table, albeit until the Whites visit Portsmouth on Sunday afternoon.

Parker's men may not be as prolific in front of goal as Leeds or Sheffield United, but the Luton shutout was Burnley's 26th clean sheet in 36 Championship games this season, an astonishing record that has apparently sparked an interest from one of the Premier League's Big Six in James Trafford.

Seven of those shutouts have come in Burnley's last seven Championship games at Turf Moor, where they are incredibly yet to concede a league goal in 2025, and the Clarets remain the only side in the division with an unbeaten home record.

While Burnley capitalised on their opponents' indiscipline at the weekend, West Brom survived their own indiscretions against QPR, who played the entire second half with a numerical advantage following Darnell Furlong's red card for violent conduct.

However, Tony Mowbray's men were already a goal down thanks to Adam Armstrong's spot-kick, and they were reduced to 10 men in the second 45 minutes to secure just their fourth win from 12 games in all competitions, and a very creditable one at that.

With Bristol City only able to take a point from their clash with Hull City, West Brom moved two points clear of the Robins in the play-off race, sitting in sixth place, one point behind Coventry City and with a superior goal difference.

West Brom are beginning to show signs of life, if a four-game unbeaten run is anything to go by, but their away record remains incredibly bleak, with none of their last 11 away from home since beating Hull in November.

West Brom's longest run without a win away from home outside the Premier League dates back to February 2000, and although the Baggies held Burnley to a 0-0 draw in November, they are now without a win in six against their stalwart hosts.

Recent Performance

Burnley Championship form:WWDWWW

Burnley form (all competitions):WDWLWW

West Bromwich Albion Championship form:WLDWDW

Team News

None of Burnley's players picked up any fresh fitness problems over the weekend, meaning Parker will only be without Aaron Ramsey (hamstring) and Mike Tresor (unspecified) for the visit of the Baggies.

Parker made just two changes to his starting line-up against Luton, with Josh Laurent and Foster coming in ahead of Hannibal and Zian Flemming, who were both unused substitutes on Saturday.

The pair could be reconsidered by the manager with games still to come, but Parker was able to make a number of early changes against Luton when his side were in the ascendancy and will largely stick to that winning formula here.

Meanwhile, West Brom have appealed against the red card shown to Furlong in the win over QPR, which Mowbray described as "very harsh", but the defender will now serve a three-match ban after their appeal to overturn the punishment was rejected.

Furlong's suspension complicates Mowbray's defensive options with Semi Ajayi currently sidelined with a hamstring problem, meaning Mason Holgate is likely to be called into action at the back on Tuesday night.

Jed Wallace (leg) and Josh Maja (calf) are also among the Baggies' absentees, while Jayson Molumby is on the receiving end of a two-match ban after picking up nine yellow cards at Turf Moor.

Possible starting lineup

Burnley possible starting lineup:

Trafford; Roberts, Egan-Riley, Esteve, Pires; Brownhill, Cullen; Edwards, Hannibal, Anthony; Foster

West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:

Wildsmith; Holgate, Bartley, Heggem, Styles; Mowatt, Molumby; Fellows, Swift, Johnston; Armstrong