A Lancashire derby takes place in the Championship this weekend with Burnley set to welcome Preston North End to Turf Moor with the Lilywhites coming into this game now down in 11th with th Clarets still running away with the league.
Burnley have been sensational all season long and barely any manager across English football is doing a more impressive job than Vincent Kompany right now. The Belgian saw his side edge past Ipswich Town in the FA Cup fourth round replay on Tuesday, as Nathan Tella scored twice with a goal in the second minute of the game and a winner in the 94th minute.
Back in the league, Burnley have managed to win nine in a row since losing to second-placed Sheffield United 5-2 away from home. This has seen them defeat Blackburn Rovers 3-0, Queens Park Rangers 3-0, Middlesbrough 3-1, Birmingham City 3-0, Stoke City 1-0, Swansea City 2-1, Coventry City 1-0, West Bromwich Albion 2-1, and most recently Norwich City 3-0 at Carrow Road. It stunningly puts Burnley on 65 points from 29 games with 19 matches bringing in all three points after scoring 58 goals and letting in just 26.
Burnley are above Sheffield United in the table by seven points and sit 17 points above Middlesbrough in third. Ultimately, it seems a matter of time until the Clarets are back in the Premier League at the first time of asking.
As for Preston, it's been a struggle for them at times this season. The club head into this game off the back of losing 2-1 to Bristol City at home and Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 in the FA Cup fourth round. Their last win came in a 2-1 victory against Birmingham City in a 2-1 win. That win pushed Preston back into the top half of the table and into 11th with 11 wins and 11 losses on the board. The club still sit with a terrible record of just 27 goals scored from 29 games, however, but they are behind the playoffs by just four points.
Despite the decent form at times this season from Preston, this should be a relatively routine win for Burnley.