Given the manner of Burnley’s defeat to Sheffield United before the World Cup break, Vincent Kompany may have had concerns regarding the capabilities of his squad bouncing back immediately.
However, the Belgian need not have done, with the Clarets scoring three goals in each of their victories over Blackburn Rovers, Queens Park Rangers and Middlesbrough.
Even though Burnley had to come from behind in the latter of those encounters, Kompany would have viewed it as a positive as they bid to hold off Sheffield United and retain hold of top spot.
Even though automatic promotion is the aim, Burnley are playing with such a swagger and belief that they should be targeting first place, especially now they sit eight points clear of third.
The North-West outfit also impressed in defeat to Manchester United in the EFL Cup earlier this week, a result which should not have a negative impact on their league duties.q
Having not recorded back-to-back wins since the middle of October, some of the excitement regarding a surprise promotion bid among the Birmingham fanbase has been lost.
Nevertheless, even with just three wins from nine games, Blues somehow remain in ninth place and just seven points adrift of Blackburn Rovers in third spot.
Birmingham beat Reading by a 3-2 scoreline last time out, avoiding a scare as their opponents netted twice in the closing stages, but John Eustace knows that points on the board are more important than conceding twice when the game should have remained over as a contest.
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Eustace has also witnessed his side collect four points from their last two away games, a return which gives them hope ahead of a meeting with opponents who are yet to taste defeat at Turf Moor during 2022-23.
Barring any injury issues arising from the defeat at Man United, Kompany could opt to name an unchanged side from the previous league fixture.
Anass Zaroury should come back into contention after representing Morocco at the World Cup, but the playmaker will likely be selected among the replacements alongside Scott Twine.
