At A Glance
Aston Villa are looking to pick up consecutive Premier League wins when they face Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday evening.
Goals from Ollie Watkins and Bertrand Traoré saw the Villans ease past Newcastle on Saturday and they’ll now be looking to end a three-game winless run on their travels.
After losing only one of their first seven away games in the league, defeats to both Manchester club have followed, but Dean Smith’s team will take confidence from the fact they’ve managed more goals away from home (14) than Burnley have mustered in their 18 top-flight games (10).
Despite being the joint-lowest scorers in the division, the Clarets have picked up five league wins thanks in large part to their stout defence, which has kept seven clean sheets.
One of those shutouts came in their last outing as they shocked reigning champions Liverpool at Anfield, winning courtesy of an Ashley Barnes’ penalty.
That victory leaves Sean Dyche’s team ten points behind Villa heading into the game.
Standout Stats
Burnley have won just one of their seven Premier League meetings with Aston Villa (D4 L2), a 1-0 away win in May 2015 when the Clarets had already been relegated.
Aston Villa are looking to record back-to-back away top-flight wins against Burnley for the first time since a run of four wins between 1895 and 1900.
Aston Villa’s last away top-flight clean sheet against Burnley was 101 years ago in January 1920 in a goalless draw, failing to record a shutout in any of their 33 subsequent visits since; the Villa goalkeeper in 1920’s 0-0 draw was Sam Hardy, capped 21 times by England.
Aston Villa have lost their last two Premier League away games, more than they had in their previous nine on the road (W5 D3). The Villans have conceded four goals in these games, more than they had in their first seven on the road this term (3).
Aston Villa lost against Manchester City on Wednesday last week – they’ve not lost a top-flight match on consecutive Wednesdays since the 1991-92 campaign, when they lost on Wednesday three weeks running (vs Man Utd on 21st August, West Ham on 28th August and Crystal Palace on 4th September).
Burnley striker Chris Wood has scored in three of his four league starts against Aston Villa, with each goal coming at a different ground (Elland Road, Villa Park, Turf Moor).
No side has scored fewer home goals in the Premier League this season than Burnley (5), with Chris Wood the only player to net more than once at Turf Moor for the Clarets this term (2).
In 16 away starts, Aston Villa keeper Emiliano Martínez has kept eight clean sheets in the Premier League. Of all keepers to have started at least 10 games on the road in the competition, the Argentine has the best clean sheet ratio (50%).
The Last Meeting
Villa Park hosted the last clash between the two sides just over a month ago as they went head-to-head in the Premier League.
The home team dominated possession and had an astonishing 27 shots but somehow failed to find a way through against the Clarets.
Anwar El Ghazi spurned several good chances while Jack Grealish also went close as Villa endured a frustrating night.
Team News
John McGinn is set to return to the squad after serving a one-match suspension, while Kortney Hause remains out and is set to have a scan on his injured foot.
Jack Grealish is fit after feeling a tight hamstring against Newcastle. Wesley is still working his way back to full fitness.
For Burnley, Charlie Taylor has a thigh injury and is “touch and go” in the words of Dyche.
Robbie Brady and Josh Brownhill are carrying knocks but look likely to feature.
The Boss
“Burnley are a very resolute team, and they don’t concede many against anyone. They’ve had an unbelievable result against Liverpool, so it’s going to be a real tough game again. They’re pulling themselves away from the slow start they had. It’s going to another tough game for us. They defended resolutely [against Liverpool], and that’s what their success has been built on. They’ve always got that threat up front as well, with Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes.”
Dean Smith
How To Watch
Aston Villa fans can watch Wednesday night's game with a BT Sport Monthly Pass.
The club's upcoming Premier League games against Southampton, West Ham and Arsenal will also be shown exclusively on BT Sport.
UK-based supporters can watch Villa games on BT Sport with a Monthly Pass, which costs £25 and offers instant access to the BT Sport app and all four channels.
Villa fans will simply need to follow the link below and sign up for the Monthly Pass, which will automatically renew after 30 days unless it is cancelled.
