Aston Villa v Burnley: Premier League predictions, free tips & TV details

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Aston Villa v Burnley in the Premier League on Thursday.

Where to watch

Amazon Prime, 6pm Thursday

Best bet

Under 2.5 goals
1pt Evs bet365

Team news

Aston Villa
On-loan midfielder Ross Barkley must be assessed but Trezeguet is ruled out. Douglas Luiz and Matty Cash both serve one-match bans.

Burnley
Johann Berg Gudmundsson faces a fitness test but the match is likely to come too soon for Jack Cork, Dale Stephens and Phil Bardsley.

Match preview

Burnley are building in belief with every Premier League outing and with another determined defensive display in store, a low-scoring contest represents the value against Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Sean Dyche’s Clarets suffered defeat in five of their opening six Premier League games but with injuries clearing, performances have improved and a hard-fought 1-0 win at Arsenal on Sunday saw them leap out of the relegation zone for the first time this season.

Burnley rode their luck at the Emirates but capitalised on a wasteful Arsenal display and were ready to pounce when Gunners midfielder Granit Xhaka saw red with the game still goalless.

The Clarets have lost only one of their last five league games and, bar their 5-0 dismantling at Manchester City, they have looked assured defensively and have mastered the art of frustrating their opposition.

As well as keeping a clean sheet at Arsenal, Burnley’s recent run of positive results has seen them shut out Brighton in a goalless draw at the Amex, grind out a 1-0 victory at home to Crystal Palace and hold attack-minded visitors Everton to a 1-1 stalemate.

Burnley’s recent improvement comes as a result of them finally being allowed to settle on their strongest 11, with the return of Ben Mee helping to fill the gaps in the heart of their defence.

The Clarets may also have to trust to some luck at Villa but the longer Burnley stay disciplined, the more desperate Dean Smith’s men may become.

Villa flew out of the traps, winning their first four league fixtures which included a 7-2 home mauling of champions Liverpool.

However, Smith’s side have lost four of their last six league fixtures, which includes each of their last three assignments at Villa Park against Leeds, Southampton and Brighton.

Villa regained the winning touch at West Midlands rivals Wolves last time out, triumphing 1-0, but they have found it easier to deliver on their travels and this will be a far different test with them expected to be in the ascendancy.

With Douglas Luiz suspended and Ross Barkley set to face a late fitness test, there may be a considerably weaker look to Villa in midfield and Burnley may look to exploit that area.

The Clarets don’t possess Villa’s weapons in attack, however, so must keep things compact and their organisational skills should stand them in good stead.

Six of Burnley’s last ten league games have featured one goal or fewer - another ended 1-1 - and with the visitors likely to rely on their defensive attributes, this may be a similarly low-scoring affair.

Key stat

Both teams have scored in only three of Burnley's 11 league games this season.

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