Burnley vs Sunderland Prediction, Lineups and Odds: Two tips for tonight's crunch Championship clash

The Championship clash is about to kick off as title rivals Burnley and Sunderland clash at Turf Moor, live at 8pm tonight on Sky Sports Main Event.

There's all to play for as just two points separates Burnley, 2nd, from Sunderland in 4th. Read on for our top tips for tonight's action!

The four-team race for the Championship title and automatic promotion is shaping up to be a compelling contest between Leeds, Burnley, Sheffield United, and Sunderland. Just three points separate league leaders Leeds from 4th-placed Sunderland after 26 matches, ensuring every game between the four teams in question has added significance going forward.

Tonight, Burnley and Sunderland will both be looking to make a statement of intent in Lancashire, where a tightly contested encounter is expected.

Burnley, under Scott Parker, have been exceptionally resilient. Parker’s side remain unbeaten in 12 games at home this season. Across all competitions, Burnley have suffered just one defeat in their last 24 matches, a run that stretches back to early November. They are currently on a 14-game unbeaten streak.

While Burnley are not the most prolific scorers, with 31 goals in 26 games, their defensive strength has been the cornerstone of their title charge. They have conceded just nine goals all season, making them the toughest team to break down in the division.

However, while Burnley may be unbeaten at home, Turf Moor hasn’t been without its share of stalemates. Five of Burnley’s last eight home matches have ended in draws.

Sunderland, meanwhile, are in fine form themselves, having lost only two of their last 19 league outings. But, with seven draws in their last 14 games, the Black Cats have also developed a frequency to share the honours.

Another draw looks like a strong possibility tonight, and at 43/20, it stands out as a value bet.

While we can't promise goals tonight, the cards market could prove fruitful.

Both teams rank among the top six for the Championship's disciplinary records this season: Burnley have accumulated 62 yellow cards and two reds, while Sunderland have racked up 57 yellows and three reds.

Recent form reinforces this trend. Burnley’s last six league matches have seen four or more total cards, and Sunderland’s last seven games have featured five or more cards.

With this in mind, over 3.5 total cards in tonight’s game appears a solid choice, priced at 8/15 with BetMGM.

Burnley vs Sunderland Lineups

Hannibal Mejbri remains out for Burnley due to a suspension, while Dan Ballard, Jenson Seelt, and Niall Huggins are all out for Sunderland, who may give new signing Enzo Le Fee a first start.

Check out the full starting lineups in the graphic below.

Burnley vs Sunderland Statistics