Preview: Burnley vs. Bristol City - prediction, team news, lineups

The Clarets played out a score draw with Preston North End in midweek, while the Robins were beaten away at high-flying Norwich City.

Match preview

Sitting fifth in the table, Burnley can be relatively satisfied with their position at present, but Vincent Kompany and co will be rueing several missed opportunities already this season, having dropped points in six of their opening nine matches.

The Clarets were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Lancashire rivals Preston on Tuesday, after a 10th-minute opener from Taylor Harwood-Bellis was cancelled out just five minutes later by Jordan Storey.

Burnley have now drawn five times this term, with only goal-shy Preston and West Bromwich Albion drawing more at this stage (six), and they currently sit six points behind Sheffield United at the summit.

Kompany's side claimed their first home victory of the season in their most recent Turf Moor outing when they beat Millwall 2-0 at the end of last month.

The Clarets will be keen to head into the international break on a high and they will fancy their chances off success on Saturday as they have won each of their previous three home meetings against Bristol City, scoring nine goals in the process.

Bristol City saw their eight-game unbeaten run across all competitions come to an end on Wednesday night when they were beaten 3-2 away at Norwich.

Tommy Conway and Antoine Semenyo were both on the scoresheet at Carrow Road, with the former netting his fifth league goal in six games, but it was the Canaries who came out on top to condemn the Robins to their third defeat of the campaign.

Nigel Pearson's side have had no problems finding the net so far this season, as they have scored in all of their opening nine Championship matches and have racked up a total of 18 goals in the process - more than any other side in the division.

Their form in front of goal has been particularly pleasing on the road, where they have netted at least two goals in five of their seven away games across all competitions this term.

Continuing their scoring spree on Saturday could prove challenging, however, as they have lost each of their last five encounters with Burnley and have drawn a blank in front of goal in their last two visits to Turf Moor.

Burnley Championship form:

Burnley form (all competitions):

Bristol City Championship form:

Bristol City form (all competitions):

Team News

Burnley were dealt a double injury blow in midweek when Nathan Tella and Charlie Taylor were forced off with problems in the second half, and both players are set to miss out on Saturday.

Ashley Westwood and Darko Churlinov both remain sidelined, with the former still recovering from a broken ankle, while Scott Twine, Johan Berg Gudmundsson and Kevin Long all missed the draw with Preston due to fitness issues and will be assessed ahead of kickoff this weekend.

Manuel Benson was a standout performer in midweek and the Belgian is set to retain his place on the right wing, while Samuel Bastien could replace the injured Tella on the opposite flank.

Centre-back Jordan Beyer made his debut off the bench against Preston and he could be handed his first start at the expense of the injured Taylor, while left-back Ian Maatsen will be hoping to force his way into the first XI ahead of Vitinho after beginning on the bench in midweek.

As for Bristol City, defender Tomas Kalas is their only injury concern as he continues to recover from a knee problem.

Centre-back trio Robert Atkinson, Kal Naismith and Zak Vyner, who have started all nine Championship games so far this term, are set to remain in the back three, shielding goalkeeper Daniel Bentley.

Pearson may also stick with the same players in midfield and attack from midweek, although Joe Williams, Han-Noah Massengo and Chris Martin will all be pushing to start after beginning as substitutes against Norwich.

Burnley possible starting lineup:

Muric; Roberts, Harwood-Bellis, Beyer, Maatsen; Cork, Cullen; Benson, Brownhill, Bastien; Rodriguez

Bristol City possible starting lineup:

Bentley; Vyner, Naismith, Atkinson; Sykes, Scott, Massengo, Dasilva; Weimann; Conway, Wells

We say: Burnley 2-2 Bristol City

Both Burnley and Bristol City will be looking to return to winning ways after failing to claim maximum points in midweek.

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