After a disastrous Festive period, this third-round tie has taken on added significance for both Burnley and Peterborough United as they look for a confidence-booster in the respective battles to avoid the drop and gain promotion.
Burnley Form and Team News
Burnley are currently four points above the relegation zone in the Premier League but they have lost their last three.
Goalscoring has become a real problem for the Clarets as they’ve only managed four in their last eight.
Sean Dyche may have to review his policy of playing Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes up front as they have similar attributes which top-flight defences are easily nullifying. Jay Rodriguez may be given the chance to stake a claim against League 1 opponents and there could also be a start for Joe Hart, Jeff Hendrick, Matthew Lowton, Matej Vydra, Aaron Lennon and Kevin Long, though Danny Drinkwater won’t feature after the club announced that his loan from Chelsea was not being extended.
Burnley’s only FA Cup triumph came at the start of the First World War and it’s more than 50 years since they were last in a final so some success is overdue, but along with a number of teams in the bottom half of the Premier League, a cup run will not be a priority and the manager will be working hard in the transfer window to strengthen his squad.
FA Cup Betting at Boylesports
Peterborough United Form and Team News
Posh entered the Christmas programme in an an automatic promotion place but ended it barely hanging on to a play-off place.
After a 3-0 thumping by Doncaster on Boxing Day, they then conceded four second-half goals at Rotherham and lost to the 10 men of Lincoln on New Year’s Day.
They’ve only scored one goal in their last four which is a poor return for a side containing the million-pound rated Ivan Toney and Marcus Maddision.
Indiscipline is clearly haunting Darren Ferguson’s team at present as they’ve had players sent off in each of their last two matches. Frankie Kent is available after suspension at Turf Moor but the manager may decide to stick with the centre-back pairing of Mark Beevers and Rhys Bennett. Midfielder Siriki Dembele will serve the first of a three-match ban but Reece Brown is available after a loan was agreed with parent club Huddersfield. Serhat Tasdemir is fit again and George Boyd will almost start against his former club but Frazer Blake-Tracy, Idris Kanu, Nathan Thompson and Josh Knight all remain sidelined.
Phillip Bardsley of Burnley with a clearance ahead of Pablo Fornals of West Ham United at Turf Moor. Copyright: Matt Wilkinson
Burnley vs Peterborough United Head-to-Heads
The Clarets and Posh met four times in the Championship between 2011 and 2013. Both sides won one game each with two draws. Both teams scored in all four games. Historically, United have fared well against the Lancashire side, winning nine times since 1965 and only losing seven.
Burnley vs Peterborough United Current Best Odds
Burnley 4/7, Draw 7/2, Peterborough United 24/5 (Odds correct at 4.15pm January 3)
Burnley vs Peterborough United Predictions
There have been a distinct lack of goals from both sides over Christmas but Burnley are likely to make wholesale changes for this tie. They will still field plenty of present and past internationals, however, and have home advantage against a team from two divisions lower who have been leaking goals lately. Jay Rodriguez and Ivan Toney are interesting in the Anytime Goalscorer betting at 13/10 and 23/10 respectively.
