Newcastle United look like a side limping towards safety in the Premier League.
In many ways, the draw collected against Tottenham Hotspur was a bonus point given that the capital side are battling for a Champions League slot this term.
And there's no doubt that Fulham's defeat at Aston Villa has papered over the cracks as Newcastle sit above the relegation zone.
Lee Ryder's prediction
Having exhausted the term "must win" throughout 2021 perhaps the reality for Newcastle at Turf Moor is that they "must not lose".
I called the draw against Spurs at the weekend (only on the basis Spurs had too many on international duty to see out the win) and I'm going to sit on the fence again here and predict another stalemate.
Yes, I hear you, and ahead of a tough batch of fixtures against West Ham (h), Liverpool (a), Arsenal (h) and Leicester (a), the Burnley game is one of the less daunting matches for Newcastle and they should be winning it.
But considering the way the season is spluttering on, and with Burnley having a tendency to draw matches themselves (nine so far in the Prem), I think that both teams might sit off each other a bit and not take any risks.
A draw almost suits both sides and were Fulham to lose or draw on Friday against a Wolves team who will be eager to bounce back from defeat against West Ham, Newcastle would certainly take being four points clear with a game in hand after 31 matches.
Of course, a drab draw at Burnley wouldn't be pretty, however, the way this season has gone, some fans would probably take it ahead of another horror show like Brighton.
Referee
Anthony Taylor (Manchester)
Took charge of the awful 3-0 defeat at Brighton, let's hope the similarities to this fixture end there.
Betting
Bet 365 have the draw at 11/5.
