Burnley vs Rochdale Predictions

• Three of Burnley’s last four Carabao Cup games have featured fewer than three goals.
• The last four Rochdale Carabao Cup ties have featured fewer than three goals.
• Four of the last five Burnley matches have featured fewer than three goals.

Turf Moor tussle could be like watching grass grow

Fans looking for excitement from the Carabao Cup third round ties this week should probably avoid Turf Moor, where an out-of-form Burnley side entertain a resilient Rochdale.

The Clarets are second-bottom of the Premier League with only one point taken, from fourth-bottom Leeds, in their opening five matches.

Sean Dyche’s side usually come good, but it’s now ten games since they last won a match in 90 minutes.

Burnley still have one of the smallest squads in the top-flight and know cup runs can take a toll later in the season, so we are expecting quite a changed line-up from Dyche.

Rochdale, currently eighth in League Two, knocked out League One Shrewsbury in the previous round and have a solid look about them.

Robbie Stockdale’s men were denied a fourth win on the bounce last weekend as they played out a 1-1 draw against Mansfield Town and will be looking to spring a surprise in front of their away following.

If Dyche can get his selection right and those players are ready to roll their sleeves up and work for the win, then the Clarets should be in the hat for round four, but we can’t be sure to trust them at the short odds-on price.

After looking for value in the goals markets, we can certainly see an opportunity to secure a profit by backing fewer than three goals to be scored.

Burnley managed just one shot on target and created no big chances in getting past Newcastle on penalties in the last round and we can’t see them scoring more than two – even against League Two opponents – right now.