Burnley catch the eye of our David John ahead of their trip to Southampton on Sunday in the Premier League.
Recommended bets:
1pt Watford to keep a clean sheet
2pts Burnley/Draw Double Chance v Southampton
Middlesbrough v Watford (1330BST)
Middlesbrough players have talked this week about the settling-in period in the top flight now being over and it is time to start getting some positive results to prove they belong here. You have to go back to April in the Sky Bet Championship for their last victory at the Riverside Stadium and going into this game as favourites must give them ripe opportunity to end that particular little barren spell. They have managed just two points from their last five games and were probably second best overall last time in their stalemate with West Ham at the London Stadium but took advantage of some more shoddy defensive work by the Hammers to take the lead from a corner which they were unable to protect. The visitors only have a couple more points but it seems like more following newsworthy victories at the aforementioned Hammers and a 3-1 success over Manchester United. Defeats to Chelsea and Arsenal actually mask two very competitive displays and the only time they have looked pretty average was a loss to Burnley at Turf Moor when captain Troy Deeney felt they had been bullied around. The goals have flowed for the duration with only four teams having scored more times - the downside has been the 13 they have conceded and a streak without a clean sheet now stretches back to mid-April. There have been rumblings among Hornets fans for record signing Isaac Success to get a start up front following his leveller against Bournemouth prior to the international break but manager Walter Mazzarri will have a tough decision to make on that issue even if Odion Ighalo has been rather subdued this season. It is the other end of the Watford line-up that interests me more though with Mazzarri admitting in the build-up he wants much more defensive solidity. If that has been a focus in training it could be worth a punt for them to finally register a clean sheet as their rivals are hardly prolific with just three goals on home soil to date.
Verdict: Middlesbrough 0-2 Watford
Opta facts:
Middlesbrough are without a win in their last five league games against Watford, drawing two and losing three.
Watford have found the back of the net in 15 of their last 16 league clashes with 'Boro.
At the Riverside, Middlesbrough have suffered just one defeat in their last five league meetings with the Hornets (W2 D2).
Troy Deeney has found the back of the net in each of the Hornets' last four meetings with Middlesbrough.
Overall, Deeney has scored six times against Middlesbrough for Watford - only against Leeds United has he scored as many (also six) for the Hornets.
Southampton v Burnley (1600BST)
The Saints are unbeaten since the middle of September on all fronts as a tweak here and there from new boss Claude Puel has got them rolling in the right direction culminating in a pretty smart performance to get a 0-0 draw at Leicester. Some better finishing on the afternoon from Charlie Austin and/or James Ward-Prowse might have seen them nick all three points and it will be interesting to see if the momentum has been halted at all by the international break. The bookmakers certainly believe there won't be an issue on that front as they are no bigger than 2/5 for victory but I am scratching my head a little in terms of why the margin between them and Burnley in the betting is quite so large. It is in part down to the fact the visitors have not looked like winning their two away fixtures in the Premier League so far with 3-0 defeats at Chelsea and Leicester (also bombed out in the EFL Cup at Accrington) but the excellent Sean Dyche's side is evolving all the time, have a fine attitude and anything near the level of display they put up against Arsenal last time will make them a tough assignment for the home team. It is based on fundamentals with a change in approach by Dyche in the engine room definitely having an impact with Steven Defour and Jeff Hendrick providing plenty of drive and energy that can give them an important foothold in games. Additionally, defender Michael Keane has attracted a few covetous glances from bigger clubs and goalkeeper Tom Heaton (has a minor calf injury but should be good to go) is a class act to give them solidity at the back which has been tougher to breach of late. The issue remains goals - they are the joint-second lowest scorers so far with five - while quicksilver striker Andre Gray remains suspended but they have an international-class performer in Sam Vokes to lead the line and the lively George Boyd retains a decent eye for the target when an opportunity presents itself. In summary, I don't see Burnley being rolled over here and represent a sporty selection in the double chance market.
Verdict: Southampton 1-1 Burnley
Opta facts:
Southampton have lost just one of their last five league meetings with Burnley, winning two and drawing two.
On home soil, Saints have suffered just one defeat in their last 14 league clashes with Burnley (W7 D6).
Saints have kept six consecutive clean sheets in all competitions. They've only enjoyed a longer run once in their history (eight, ending in August 1922).
Burnley have enjoyed just two victories in their last 15 Premier League away games, drawing three and losing 10.
Southampton have unbeaten in eight Premier League games on home soil (W5 D3) a run bettered only by Leicester (19) and Liverpool (10).
Indeed, Saints have scored in each of their last 13 Premier League games at St. Mary's, the best current run in the competition.
In his two previous Premier League games against former club Burnley, Charlie Austin has scored twice and been sent off.