- 1 Burnley vs Middlesbrough : the relegated side up against the promotion contender
- 2 Burnley : one win in their last 32 league games
- 3 Middlesbrough : Lankshear is scoring at more than a goal a game
- 4 Football Prediction Burnley vs Middlesbrough
- 5 First, a word on our free predictions
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information that changes
- 8 Your role
- 9 Responsible gambling first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the images…
Burnley vs Middlesbrough : the relegated side up against the promotion contender 
Burnley host Middlesbrough on Wednesday, September 2, at Turf Moor, with kickoff set for 8:00pm local time, or 9:00pm in France. This fourth round of the Championship brings together two clubs tipped for the top half of the table this summer.
Burnley are, however, languishing near the bottom, 22nd with just one point on the board. No wins in three games, and a 4-1 battering at Norwich last Saturday.
Middlesbrough arrive in the exact opposite mood. Four wins in their last five in all competitions, including a convincing 3-1 success over West Bromwich Albion at the weekend.
Burnley’s situation goes well beyond this poor start. The club dropped back down after a Premier League campaign that finished 19th with 22 points from 38 matches.
Scott Parker oversaw most of that season before Mike Jackson took over for the final four games. Nicky Hayen, who had spells with Club Brugge and Genk, took charge this summer.
Middlesbrough, meanwhile, are still licking their wounds after a playoff letdown, beaten by Hull City at Wembley in May. Kim Hellberg has built his squad around that disappointment and is aiming straight at promotion.
The two sides have not met since a 0-0 draw in December 2024. Burnley were in the Premier League last season, which makes any straight comparison a bit messy.
Both clubs are carrying urgency, but for different reasons. Burnley need to climb out of trouble, while Middlesbrough are trying to put together a run and take control.
Burnley : one win in their last 32 league games 
The most damning stat in this story is all about the long haul. Burnley have won just one of their last 32 league matches since November 1, the worst record across the top four divisions in England.
This season has done nothing to ease the pain. A 2-2 draw with West Ham, a 3-1 defeat at West Brom and that 4-1 hiding at Carrow Road make up most of the evidence.
The way things unfolded in Norwich was especially worrying. Two down after five minutes, the Clarets were 3-0 behind by the 21st.
Josh Laurent pulled one back before getting sent off late on for a second booking. He’ll now sit out the visit of Middlesbrough.
The midfield was already short-handed before that dismissal. Josh Cullen has been out since December with an ACL injury, while Lyle Foster remains unavailable.
Kyle Walker is expected to keep the armband and his place in defence. Up front, Hayen could shuffle his pack with Zian Flemming being linked with a move before the window shuts.
The League Cup run hasn’t offered much comfort either. Burnley scraped past Notts County on penalties, then crashed out after a 0-0 draw at Bradford City.
Turf Moor hasn’t felt much like a fortress for some time. Their only home league game this season ended 2-2 with West Ham, another side who came down from the Premier League.
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Middlesbrough : Lankshear is scoring at more than a goal a game 
Boro’s summer business is already paying off. Ashley Phillips and Will Lankshear arrived from Tottenham, while goalkeeper Radek Vitek joined after a successful loan spell at Bristol City.
Lankshear is the headline act of this bright start. The striker has scored six times in five appearances since signing, including a brace against West Brom on Saturday.
The team record is following the same upward curve. League Cup wins over Wrexham and Doncaster, an opening 2-1 victory over Lincoln City and that 3-1 defeat of West Brom, with just one loss in between.
That lone defeat came at Blackburn, a 2-1 setback. Hellberg responded straight away with back-to-back wins in two different competitions.
There was a worry on Saturday when Jeremy Sarmiento went off in the 40th minute. The Ecuador international, loaned to the Riverside last season before staying on, will miss the trip to Turf Moor.
Maximilian Arfsten is expected to come in from the start to cover for him. Boro’s only real blot is their away form, with no wins from their last five trips.
Recruitment has been focused on key areas rather than bulk. A defender, a striker and a goalkeeper, all brought in from Premier League clubs, have changed the look of the side.
Hellberg has also managed to keep the squad ticking over on two fronts. Rotations in the League Cup have not stopped them beating Wrexham and Doncaster.
Expected Burnley line-up : Weiss ; Walker, Ahmedhodzic, Alleyne, Roberts ; Mejbri, Ramsey ; B. Larsen, Edwards, Satpaev ; Hountondji
Expected Middlesbrough line-up : Vitek ; Brittain, Ayling, Malanda, N. Borges ; Morris, Peart-Harris ; Whittaker, McGree, Arfsten ; Lankshear
Football Prediction Burnley vs Middlesbrough
Our prediction : Middlesbrough win
One win in 32 league matches is not a slump any more, it’s a pattern. Burnley also go into this one without Laurent, who is suspended, and with two midfield regulars missing through injury.
At the other end, Lankshear has six goals in five games and Boro are on a two-match winning streak. The 4-1 thrashing at Norwich showed Burnley can unravel early, and fast.
The one case for Burnley is Boro’s away record, which still shows no wins in five trips. But that’s not enough to talk us out of it: Middlesbrough to win at Turf Moor, with the price still looking decent.
That Boro price is appealing precisely because of that away record. Against a side that has won only once in 32 league games, the risk looks fair enough.
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