Stoke City host Burnley this weekend and will be aiming to continue their good form to pick up their second win in two games.
The Potters went to Watford last week and outplayed their hosts, winning 1-0 due to Heurelho Gomes’ own goal.
Burnley have lost their last two games, including a 4-0 defeat to West Brom, and currently sit 13th in the Premier League table
What the managers said
In Friday morning’s press conference, Mark Hughes acknowledged Burnley’s poor away form: “They seem to have more of a problem away from home, which is understandable,”
“It’s difficult to pick up away points, and we have experienced that.” Said the Welshman.
“It was initially a struggle for us when I first came here but we are more adept at going on the road and picking up good results now.”
Burnley manager Sean Dyche talked about his side’s away form, and said that his players need a wining thinking, and “the extra bits that add up to that winning formula.”
Dyche also explained that he doesn’t think his side has delivered their game as well as they can, and that some of it is down to the quality of opposition they have played, but they have to ad more than they have shown away from home.
Team news
For Stoke, Hughes explained that the only major doubt is Ryan Shawcross, who has a calf injury. Glenn Whelan should be fit to return, which could see a change of personnel in midfield.
Geoff Cameron and Phil Bardsley continue to be unavailable, while England goalkeeper Jack Butland is playing for the Under-23s this evening in his comeback from injury.
For Burnley, goalkeeper Tom Heaton faces a battle to prove his fitness in time to face Stoke, which could mean veteran shot-stopper Paul Robinson keeps his place.
Johann Berg Gudmundsson will miss the game with a hamstring injury while Dean Marney has a strong chance of being fit after a nerve problem affecting his back and hamstring.
Previous meetings
In the four times that these sides have met in the Premier League, Stoke have won a single game while Burnley have won once and drawn to the Potters twice.
The last time the sides met, they played out a 0-0 draw at Turf Moor as Stoke reached 51 points to ensure their best-ever Premier League points total by drawing to an already relegated Burnley.
Their last meeting at the Brittania Stadium (now the Bet365 Stadium) saw Burnley walk away with the three points, thanks to two Danny Ings goals within two minutes.
Match facts
Burnley have picked up just one point on their travels this season, scoring just one goal in the process and conceding 13.
The Clarets have a -9 goal difference overall, ranking in 16th place. However, their goal difference at home is +3, while their away goal difference is -12, enough for the worst in the league.
Stoke City are the third best team in the league over the last six games, wining four of them and drawing another in the process.
The Potters’ home form is quite patchy, despite wins over Swansea City and Sunderland, they have the 18th worst home defence in the league, conceding 11 goals and keeping just one clean sheet all season.
The fixture kicks off at 3pm, Saturday at the Bet365 Stadium.