Determined spirit demonstrated by Cullen as he prepares for the Sunderland match, saying: "We accept the challenges, and we press forward."
Sunderland Aim for Second Straight Premier League Win Against Struggling Burnley
Sunderland and Burnley will face off in the Premier League this weekend, with both teams looking to build on their opening game results. Sunderland, fresh from a 2-0 win against West Ham United, will be hoping to win their first two games in a top-division season since the 1980-81 campaign.
In their debut, Sunderland's center-back Dan Ballard scored a goal and kept a clean sheet, an impressive performance that has set the tone for the team's season. Ballard's impact was further emphasized by his statistics, as he won 10 out of 13 duels, six aerial duels, and four possession back for Sunderland.
Meanwhile, Burnley have had a challenging start to the season, losing their first match against Tottenham Hotspur. The Clarets have a history of struggle in August and September, having not won an away Premier League victory since August 2009. This trend continues, as they have failed to win any of their last 24 fixtures in those months.
At home, Burnley have fared slightly better, remaining unbeaten in their last three home matches against Sunderland, with two wins and one draw. However, they have a worrying statistic when it comes to clean sheets, having gone 21 consecutive Premier League matches without one since a 2-0 win at Fulham in December 2023.
Sunderland, on the other hand, have a strong record against Burnley, keeping a clean sheet in six of their last eight league encounters with the Clarets. However, the Black Cats have also conceded exactly four goals each time in the two remaining matches.
Burnley's player to watch is Josh Cullen, who has been a key player in two promotion-winning sides and created the most chances in their first Premier League match of the season. Despite their loss to Tottenham, Cullen remains optimistic, speaking about the team's attitude and the importance of focusing on improvements for the next game.
The Opta win probability for the match is: Burnley - 40%, Draw - 28.5%, Sunderland - 31.6%. With both teams looking to bounce back from their opening game results, this promises to be an exciting encounter.
Sunderland's Historic Win Against West Ham
In a significant moment for Sunderland, they scored two headers in quick succession in their game against West Ham United, a feat not achieved since 2014. This historic win marked a significant turnaround for the team, who have struggled away in the Premier League during August and September, failing to win any of their last 24 fixtures in those months since their 1-0 win over Bolton Wanderers in August 2009.
Burnley's Recent Struggles and Achievements
Burnley have also had their fair share of ups and downs. Despite recording a 100-point return in the 2024-25 season, they missed out on the Championship crown to Leeds United on goal difference. Since their win against Tottenham, Burnley have conceded 19% of the league goals they conceded in the entirety of 2024-25 in one Premier League match in 2025-26 (3/16).
The Clarets have also struggled at home, losing their first home Premier League match of the season in seven of their nine seasons in the competition. However, they did manage to go unbeaten at home in the 2024-25 season, conceding on just eight occasions.
As both teams prepare to face off, fans can expect an exciting and closely contested match, with Sunderland aiming to continue their impressive start to the season and Burnley looking to bounce back from their opening day loss.
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