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Burnley logo
Championship
Aug 15, 2015 at 12.30pm UK
 
Birmingham logo

2-2

Keane (51'), Taylor (81')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Toral (10'), Caddis (63' pen.)

Preview: Burnley vs. Birmingham City

Sports Mole casts its eye forward to Saturday lunchtime's Championship match at Turf Moor as Burnley take on Birmingham City.

The lunchtime kickoff on the second weekend of the Championship season takes place in Lancashire as Burnley welcome Birmingham City to Turf Moor.

The hosts are still searching for their first win of the season, while Birmingham are looking to make it three straight triumphs.


Burnley

Manager Sean Dyche of Burnley reacts during the Barclays Premier League match between Southampton and Burnley at St Mary's Stadium on March 21, 2015© Getty Images

Sean Dyche's newly-relegated Clarets are in the televised lunchtime game for the second week running after they kicked off last Saturday's action with a 1-1 draw at Elland Road against Leeds United.

Both sides went close in an end-to-end, but goalless, opening 80 minutes before Sam Vokes cancelled out Mirco Antenucci's opener within two minutes in the closing stages.

Vokes scored 20 goals in Burnley's promotion year in 2013-14, but injury hampered his time in the Premier League and his goal on Saturday was his first league goal since March 2014.

Since the draw against Leeds, Burnley travelled to League One side Port Vale in the Capital One Cup and this time couldn't mount a late comeback after Byron Moore's 82nd-minute deadlock-breaker.

Dyche will be glad to return home, but Burley haven't scored in any of their last four league games at Turf Moor. If they fail to break down Birmingham, it will be the first time in their history they have gone five home league home without scoring.

There may be some new faces present as well, with Dyche admitting that they are close to adding to the squad. Nottingham Forest midfielder Henri Lansbury and German striker Rouwen Hennings have both been linked with the club.

Recent form: DL


Birmingham

Gary Rowett of Birmingham City looks on during the pre season friendly match between Nuneaton Town and Birmingham City at the James Parnell Stadium on July 14, 2015© Getty Images

After Gary Rowett came in and turned around Birmingham's fortunes last season, guiding them to a top-10 finish, they have started this season in a winning fashion.

On Saturday they squeezed past Reading 2-1 at home before seeing off Bristol Rovers by the same scoreline in the League Cup to reach the second round.

David Cotterill was a standout player for the Blues last term and he picked up where he left off by scoring the Championship's first free-kick goal of the season against the Royals.

However, that was one of just five attempts Birmingham had on goal on the opening day - a league low - and they wouldn't have won if Orlando Sa had stuck away a 98th-minute penalty to earn Reading a point.

Rowett might have had one eye on Tuesday's match at Brentford in his preparation for this match, but that game has now been postponed and rescheduled for September 29 so that the Bees can relay their pitch which is already badly cutting up two games into the season.

Recent form: WW


Team News

Jon Toral of Birmingham looks to pass under pressure from Michael Hector of Reading during the Sky Bet Championship match between Birmingham City and Reading at St Andrews Stadium on August 8, 2015 © Getty Images

Dyche named a strong starting lineup for the League Cup tie at Port Vale, but the likes of Tom Heaton and David Jones should return after getting a rest.

Vokes started ahead of Lukas Jutkiewicz in midweek after his goal against Leeds and Dyche must now decide which two out of Vokes, Jutkiewicz and Jelle Vossen will start in attack here.

Arsenal loanee Jon Toral scored on his Birmingham debut in the win over Reading and Rowett has admitted that it will be hard to pick between the Spaniard and Andrew Shinnie in the number-10 role after the latter shone against Rovers in the Cup.

Rowett made a total of eight changes for the trip to Bristol and could revert back to the side that started against Reading on Saturday.

Burnley possible starting lineup:
Heaton; Darikwa, Duff, Keane, Mee; Boyd, Arfield, Jones, Kightly; Vossen, Vokes

Birmingham possible starting lineup:
Kuszczak; Caddis, Spector, Morrison, Grounds; Kieftenbeld, Gleeson; Cotterill, Toral, Gray; Donaldson


Head To Head

Burnley have won just two of their last nine home matches against the Blues, but one of those victories was their last meeting at Turf Moor when Danny Ings scored twice in a 3-0 win.

The Clarets also put three past the Blues in the reverse at St Andrew's, the duo's last encounter, but it wasn't enough for victory as Federico Macheda scored a last-gasp equaliser for the home side.

Birmingham have gone 12 games without keeping a clean sheet against the Clarets.


Video Preview

Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:



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We say: Burnley 2-0 Birmingham

Birmingham might be in better form, but Burnley should be buoyed by their return to Turf Moor and should have too much for the Blues.



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Giuseppe Bellusci (L) of Leeds United challenges Jelle Vossen of Burnley during the Sky Bet Championship match between Leeds United and Burnley at Elland Road on August 8, 2015
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