This Week's Opposition: Burnley

Jake Smith takes a look at the side aiming to take more points off Pompey this weekend.

Pompey enter matchday number 30 this weekend and it’s back to Fratton Park we go for the visit of promotion hopefuls Burnley.

MANAGER

Former Fulham, AFC Bournemouth and Club Brugge boss Scott Parker is in charge of The Clarets having succeeded Vincent Kompany, who left to become manager of German Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich at the end of last season.

The 44-year-old, who once plied his trade as a Premier League midfielder for the likes of Chelsea, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham, has won promotion from the Championship twice before - With Fulham via the Play-Offs in 2020 and then as runners-up with Bournemouth 2 years later.

ONE TO WATCH

Attacking midfielder Hannibal Mejbri has been causing defences a lot of trouble this season.

In recent weeks however, the Tunisian has had to find appearances off the bench, though making a positive impact when he does come on as a sub.

Only 3 times this season has Hannibal not made Burnley’s league matchday squad, however on those occasions, he was serving suspensions - 1 for the accumulation of 5 yellow cards by early December and the other for a straight red against Stoke City on New Year’s Day.

TOP SCORER

Having netted 9 goals and registered 4 assists in the Championship so far this season, Burnley’s number 8, Josh Brownhill is the club’s leading scorer.

The 29-year-old plays in midfield and last found the back of the net in a 2-0 win at Sheffield United on Boxing Day, 7 league games ago.

He has featured in all bar one of The Clarets’ 29 league fixtures this campaign.

CURRENT FORM

Scott Parker’s side are 3rd in the Championship and just 3 points off Leeds United at the top.

The Clarets have accumulated 57 points from 29 games so far this season having recorded 15 wins and 12 draws - They have only been beaten twice in the league.

A goalless draw with Leeds in their most recent game on Monday night marked a 7th successive match without conceding for Burnley, breaking a club record stretching back to the 1980s. That result also capped a 3rd straight 0-0 at Turf Moor.

Burnley have only scored 36 league goals, the second-lowest of any side in the top half, but they also boast the best defence in the division, conceding just 9, - That is 10 fewer than the next best side; Leeds have let in 19.

Can the Blues bounce back and pick up an unlikely result against opposition who are extremely difficult to break down?

Join Jake Smith, Dean Adams and James Wilson from 2pm on Saturday (February 1st) for full coverage of this latest Championship fixture for Portsmouth.

Kick-off: 3pm!