Burnley vs West Bromwich Albion. Premier League.
Turf MoorAttendance19,619.
Saturday 19 August 2017 13:53, UK
Gareth Barry could make his debut when West Brom visit Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday.
The experienced midfielder joined Albion from Everton this week on an initial one-year deal and is expected to feature at Turf Moor, with Sam Field most likely to drop out.
West Brom beat Bournemouth 1-0 in their opening Premier League fixture but face a tough test this weekend at Burnley, who shocked Chelsea 3-2 at Stamford Bridge.
Sean Dyche has no new injury concerns with the Clarets bidding to win their first two top-flight matches for the first time since 1973.
Dyche could stick with a winning formula for their first home game of the season.
Dean Marney (knee) is his only long-term injury absentee, while summer signing Phil Bardsley has been struggling for match fitness.
For West Brom, Barry has been added to their squad.
Head coach Tony Pulis saw his side make a winning start against Bournemouth without picking up any new injuries so Jonny Evans (hamstring), Gareth McAuley (thigh) and James Morrison (knee) remain out, although Evans is nearly fit.
West Brom have met Burnley four times in the Premier League, winning both home games 4-0 and drawing the two clashes at Turf Moor 2-2.
Burnley will be looking to win their opening two games of a top-flight season for the first time since 1973-74 - a season that the Clarets finished in sixth place.
West Brom haven't won both of their first two games in a top-flight league season since 1978-79. They ended that campaign in third place; the last time that they finished in the top three places within the top flight.
Pulis' side have failed to win any of their last nine Premier League matches on the road (D4 L5). The Welshman last went 10 away games without a win in the PL back in November 2012 with Stoke (16).
Chris Brunt has provided 14 assists direct from dead ball scenarios in the Premier League since August 2014; more than any other player during this period.
Sam Vokes has scored seven goals in his last six Premier League appearances after netting just five in the previous 58. The Welsh frontman is also the first Burnley player to score in four consecutive Premier League appearances.
Salomon Rondon scored in both Premier League fixtures against Burnley last season, the only opponent he netted against both home and away in 2016-17.
I watched Burnley last Saturday and to score three goals at Chelsea was phenomenal. They played well and getting the away win so early might be a monkey off the back as they cannot afford to have an away record as bad as last season.
They had a brilliant home record but the teams they beat at Turf Moor, they might not beat again this year.
West Brom are quite hard to beat and solid at set plays as they proved last weekend, but I expect Burnley to win this one.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (9/1 with Sky Bet)
Burnley are Sky Bet's 7/5 favourites for the victory with West Brom 21/10, the same price as the draw. The Clarets were pushed out from 11/10 to 6/4 to face relegation after their Stamford Bridge win, while Tony Pulis' men are well back in the market at 11/2. Sam Vokes heads a wide-open first goalscorer market at 5/1 followed by Jay Rodriguez at 11/2.
