Betting guide: Stoke v Burnley

Last updated : 18 August 2009 By Dan Buxton

 The start of the season always throws up a surprise or two, just ask Norwich fans or Wayne Thomas who led the Potters scoring chart after half a dozen games a few years back.

 There is no real form to go to, Norwich were unbeaten in pre-season before getting the aforementioned 7-1 spanking last weekend, but both sides have struggled through pre-season, the Potters first team failing to win a single game, even falling to defeats against Newcastle Town and Nantwich Town.

 Thats all forgotten though and at kick you know both sides will be raring to go.

 Burnley have great record at the Britannia, five wins and one defeat in eight previous trips, and are a best priced 10/3 with Bet365 to take another three points from Stoke, the Potters are 20/21, at Boylesports, to bring their impressive home form from last season into this. The draw is 5/2 with those old friends PaddyPower

 The last encounter at Stoke was infact a one goal a piece draw and a repeat of that scoreline is 6/1 with Bet365. Goals have been hard to come by in this fixture, just 5 in the last 4 matches, and Betfred offer odd's of 6/1 on a Stoke 1-0 win and 10/1 on a Burnley 1-0 victory.

 With the history suggesting a tight, low scoring game so first goalscorer odds will probably be better value than score any time. City's Ricardo Fuller could be on the bench, but don't let that put you off as at 13/2, the hitman is looking bang in form and is lethal against tired legs.

 Ex-Potter Martin Paterson scored on his only previous visit to the Britannia as a Stoke player, when at Scunthorpe, and is 10/1 with Coral to open the scoring. Abdoulaye Faye scored three times last season and also netted the first against Valladolid last week and is massive 33/1 with StanJames, the same odd's as full back Ryan Shotton is, with Bet365, to open the scoring on his full debut. Shotton netted 6 times for Tranmere whilst on loan there last season.

 James Beattie and Graham Alexander are two of the best penalty takers in the game and PaddyPower offer 16/5 that there will be a converted penalty during the match.