Burnley’s Clean Sheet Run Presents an Opportunity for Punters

Burnley sit 3rd in the Championship and they have their defence to thank, after yet another superb display. 

Scott Parker’s side have kept 11 consecutive clean sheets in the league and they are set to smash several records. With crucial clashes in the league and FA Cup to come, backing against goals when Burnley take to the field appeals.

Odds courtesy of bet365. Correct at time of publishing and subject to change.

The Remarkable Numbers Behind Burnley’s Defence

The Clarets are conceding an average of 0.27 goals per game in the Championship this season. Leeds United, who boast the second-best defensive record in the division, are conceding an average of 0.61 goals. However, Daniel Farke’s side are scoring an average of 2.08 per game, 0.9 more than Burnley. Scott Parker’s men will need to maintain their superb record at the back if they are to close the gap on the automatic promotion places. They are currently seven points behind the league leaders, Leeds, and five points behind Sheffield United.

No team has scored more than a solitary goal against Burnley in the league this season. Wolves are the only team to net twice against the Clarets across all competitions. Their ability to keep the opposition at bay has seen them lose just two league games. The last of those defeats came against Millwall on the 3rd of November. Since then, they have conceded an average of 0.15 goals per league game.

The 0-0 draw against Preston last weekend meant that Burnley surpassed the 1,000-minute mark without conceding a goal. They became just the fifth team in the history of English football’s top four tiers to keep 11 successive clean sheets. The current record is 14, held by Manchester United in the 2008/09 season. The Clarets are conceding an average of 1.91 shots on target per game during that run so James Trafford hasn’t been particularly busy between the sticks.

If Burnley continues this way, several records will tumble before the end of the campaign. The team have kept 24 clean sheets in the league thus far. The current EFL record is 27 by Wigan Athletic in 2017/2018. Trafford has been in the net for 23 of those clean sheets. He needs just to more to beat the record for most clean sheets by a keeper in a Championship season held by John Ruddy (24). Scott Parker’s side are also on course to concede the fewest goals per game in an English league season. Liverpool hold that title after conceding an average of 0.38 goals per game in the 1978/79 campaign. 

Whatever Burnley manage to achieve in the closing months of the season, it is certainly one to remember from a defensive standpoint. The fans will be hoping that it can lift them back into the top tier of English football. 

Bet Against Goals in the Weeks to Come

Next up for Burnley is a clash with Sheffield Wednesday at Turf Moor. The Owls have scored an average of 1.33 goals per game in the league this season but breaking down the Clarets’ defence should prove to be a tough task.  Wednesday were beaten 2-0 in the reverse fixture. They take on a Burnley backline that allowed Preston to rack up an xG of just 0.24 in their last game. Moreover, Scott Parker’s side are conceding an average of just 0.25 goals per game in front of their own fans in the league so backing them to win and keep a clean sheet looks a solid bet here. 

The Clarets’ next away game comes against Preston in the FA Cup. Paul Heckingbottom’s side failed to lay a glove on Burnley in last weekend’s league encounter and we look set for more of the same here. PNE have also failed to score in four of their last five matches against Burnley so the signs are ominous ahead of this one. This one looks set to be another cagey affair with both teams keen on securing a place in the last eight.

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