Wolves vs Burnley: Clarets dreaming of Premier League safety

Cameron Loftus
24 April 2021

Burnley are aiming to avoid relegation from the Premier League for a fifth straight season. A win over Wolves would certainly take them closer to that goal.

When: Sunday, April 25, 12:00 GMT

How to watch: BBC One

Follow this game via our live score centre

Best bets

Burnley to win at 16/5 (BetVictor)

Chris Wood to score first at 6/1 (Bet365)

Burnley to score over 1.5 goals at 3/1 (Unibet)

Wolves manager, Nuno Espirito Santo

Wolves have won their last two Premier League matches, albeit against teams in the lower reaches of the table. Two 1-0 victories over Fulham and then Sheffield United have given Nuno Espirito Santo's men firm belief that they can sneak into the top half of the table.

Wolves are priced at 9/1 to finish in the top ten and are worth a squeak at that price considering the dip in form that teams above them are suffering.

Burnley, however, are looking over their shoulders as they sit perilously close to the relegation zone. Three losses since the international break has left them on 33 points after 32 games played. Experience of this situation benefits Sean Dyche's men and it is expected that they put their losing run behind them sooner rather than later.

The Clarets look unlikely to face the drop, although if they fail to pick up points soon it could be a different story. They are 7/1 to be relegated with bet365.

Last three Premier League meetings:

Burnley 2-1 Wolves (December 21, 2020)

This victory for Burnley earlier in the season helped them move three points above the relegation zone.

Ashley Barnes nodded in Charlie Taylor's cross on what was a wet and miserable night at Turf Moor.

Josh Brownhill was unlucky not to score for Burnley - not once, but twice - with two efforts from outside the penalty area going close.

A goal typical of Burnley then made it two as Sean Dyche's men won the first and second ball from a free-kick and Chris Wood was in the right place to smash in a volley from close range.

Youngster Fabio Silva won and converted a penalty for Wolves late on, but Burnley survived a late onslaught to come away with a hard-earned win.

Burnley 1-1 Wolves (July 15, 2020)

Honours were shared as the solitary point left both teams failing to fuel their European aspirations.

A brisk Wolves counter-attack in the second half brought about the opening goal of the contest. Matt Doherty's shot deflected kindly to the feet of Raul Jimenez and the Mexican superbly volleyed into the back of the net from 20 yards.

Burnley missed a glorious chance when Chris Wood somehow missed a header that seemed easier to score. The striker did, however, make amends when he finished a penalty in the 90th minute to secure a draw for the home side.

Wolves 1-1 Burnley (August 25, 2019)

The third round of fixtures in the 2019/20 season produced a draw between Wolves and Burnley.

The deadlock was broken within 15 minutes when Ashley Barnes scored a half-volley that was hit low to the goalkeeper's right-hand side.

Ben Mee went close when his looping header bounced back off the crossbar and the ball was scrambled away by the Wolves defence.

Raul Jimenez nearly got his side back on level terms when he hit the woodwork and soon after he was in the thick of the action, winning a penalty after a desperate lunge from Erik Pieters. Jimenez dusted himself down to send Nick Pope the wrong way and gave Wolves a last-minute equaliser.

Premier League head-to-head

Played: 7

Wolves wins: 3

Draws: 2

Burnley wins: 2

Wolves goals: 8

Burnley goals: 7

Burnley looking to rediscover form

Before the international break the Clarets had lost just one of seven league games, including draws with Leicester and Arsenal and an impressive away win at Everton.

Since that match, three consecutive defeats has left Sean Dyche's team with plenty to do in order to secure safety - something that seemed a certainty only a matter of weeks ago.

Burnley are slipping down the Premier League table

Dyche is exceptional at getting the best out his players and the longest-serving manager in the Premier League knows how to keep his Burnley side in the top flight.

An opportunity presents itself in the early kick-off on Sunday with Wolves' season seemingly petering out, and Burnley will be hoping to take advantage.

Scoreline prediction: Wolves 1-2 Burnley

In recent history Burnley have been able to rely on this fixture as a way of picking up points, unbeaten in their last four fixtures with Wolves. With this game holding more importance for the Lancashire side, Sean Dyche's men will be confident of turning their recent form around.

Wolves defender, Leander Dendoncker

Wolves' last four matches in the Premier League have been decided by a single goal and this clash could follow that trend, with a potentially cagey affair in the offing.

Ultimately, Burnley have more to play for at this stage of the season than Wolves and for that reason are taken to secure a narrow victory.

Goalscorer bets

Chris Wood has scored in the previous two meetings between the sides and the striker is never far away from the goalscoring action. What's more, he has seven league goals to his name this season.

He is 6/1 to strike first on Sunday with bet365.