Lancashire

Burnley's defensive record is unbelievable, but they have got a problem at the other end of the pitch.

They do not score many goals and it appears there is an element of Burnley fans who are quite bored watching Scott Parker's team.

Their situation is the same as Leeds, in that they are one of four teams chasing one of the two automatic promotion spots in the Championship.

Again, they have got a midweek league game coming up, at Hull City on Wednesday, which will be their priority. I think Parker will make changes here and they will fall foul of that.

Southampton will not be complaining, because they have won so few games against anyone this season.

Saints picked up a rare win at Ipswich last weekend, and at home they have managed only three victories in all competitions - Stoke City in the Carabao Cup, Everton in the league and Swansea City in the FA Cup third round.

To say they have momentum after beating Ipswich is probably pushing it, and they are still a long way adrift at the bottom of the table, but a decent FA Cup run would give their fans a bit of escapism in what has been a miserable season.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Image source, Getty Images

Burnley's new signings Marcus Edwards and Jaydon Banel are likely to make their debuts in the FA Cup fourth-round tie at Southampton, according to boss Scott Parker.

The Clarets face the Premier League's bottom side, who are just two places above them in the English football pyramid, at St Mary's on Saturday afternoon.

Edwards, 26, has joined on loan until the end of the season from Portuguese side Sporting, while Banel, 20, signed from Ajax for an undisclosed fee.

"It gives us a chance to freshen things up, the likelihood is we can integrate the new players into this fixture," Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"Give them some minutes [because] the new signings have lacked a bit of game time.

"You've got to give the players coming in an understanding of what is expected of them, added to the fact that players coming in haven't played a lot of football - and that is what a January window brings.

"The last thing I want to do is push them too hard and we lose players, so we need to tread carefully.

"But I want to get them up to speed as quickly as I can because these players have been brought in to help us for the remaining part of the season."

Image source, Rex Features

Burnley keeper James Trafford has been named the Championship player of the month for January.

The 22-year-old did not concede a single goal, keeping six clean sheets and saving two Wilson Isidor penalties in the dying minutes to ensure a point against promotion-rivals Sunderland.

Burnley manager Scott Parker told the EFL website, external: "This is well deserved. James has been incredible all season, not just this month. Since I arrived he has been a top professional and a rock for the team."

Sky Sports' EFL pundit Don Goodman said: "On individual performance, it would be difficult to have a more perfect month than James Trafford.

"Burnley's defensive stability is going to be the key in their bid for promotion, and Trafford is central to that."

Coventry midfielder Jamie Allen, Oxford United defender Ciaron Brown and Sunderland keeper Anthony Patterson were also up for the award.

Image source, Getty Images

On Wednesday we asked what you made of Preston North End's business in the transfer window.

North End brought in Lewis Gibson from Plymouth Argyle to shore up the heart of the defence, while 18-year-old left-back Jayden Meghoma joined from Premier League side Brentford.

Scotland defender Ryan Porteous arrived on loan from Watford, while Ryan Ledson, Emil Riis, Freddie Woodman and Milutin Osmajic remained at Deepdale despite reported interest from elsewhere.

Here are some of your responses:

Al: 7/10. Hopefully the problem left-back position has now been filled, and Gibson looks a solid addition. Also think that Porteous will add some much needed competition at the back. Winter recruitment has been much better than the summer which, loan signings aside, was pretty dreadful!

Jim: Gibson was a good signing but only time will tell with the others, as they are not in it for the long haul. Deeply frustrating season with some poor games where they have been bullied and outfought. Other times they have looked clueless going forward and seem content to defend their own box. A real lack of consistency and some shocking results against teams around or below them. Unfortunately, I don't see these signings changing a lot and it looks like the season is fizzling out already.

Gren: Decent transfer window for North End to be fair, I do however think we will be doing well to finish in the top 10 of the Championship this season!

Adam: I would have preferred to see an additional striker added to the team; however, I am pleased with the recent signings, particularly Gibson, who has made a remarkable impact in defence. My primary concern lies with the loan players, whose contributions have been exceptional. It is crucial that we secure their contracts in the upcoming transfer window. Alternatively, Preston should consider reviewing its financial strategy to increase salary offerings, which would enhance our ability to attract top talent. I'd like to think this approach will provide us with a better chance of remaining competitive in the upper half of the league.

Charlie: Positive window for helping seal the back door that has been low on confidence and seems to concede several goals after conceding one. Now it looks a little more settled and the addition of a natural LWB is much needed. Hopefully Meghoma grows each game and the long-term solution is found in the summer. Missing the natural goalscorer for when Osmajic is unavailable is going to show as Riis seems to miss lots of chances. Championship strikers should score more often than not.

Mo: We needed a better keeper and missed out. I'm sure we could could have the money from somewhere.

Fin: Glad we finally got a left-back, Gibson is a good signing and I'm glad we got cover following Jordan Storey's injury. Some cover in central midfield would've been good after Ben Whiteman's injury. Would've loved another striker to play alongside Osmajic but we can only hope for the summer.

Preston North End welcome League One high-fliers Wycombe Wanderers to Deepdale for an FA Cup fourth round tie on Saturday afternoon (15:00 GMT).

• Preston have won two of their three FA Cup meetings with Wycombe, though the exception was a 4-1 defeat in the most recent such encounter (2020-21 third round).

• After a 13-game winless run against Preston between 1996 and 2020 (D4 L9), Wycombe have won both of their past two meetings with the Lilywhites (both in 2021).

• Wycombe Wanderers have reached the FA Cup fourth round for just the fourth time, also doing so in 2000-01, 2016-17 and 2020-21. Only in 2000-01 have they gone beyond this stage, eventually reaching the semi-final before losing to eventual winners Liverpool.

• Preston are looking to reach the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since 2014-15, with this just their third fourth round appearance since then (0-1 v Sheffield United in 2018, 0-3 v Tottenham in 2023).

• Wycombe's Luke Leahy has been involved in nine goals in his past 12 FA Cup appearances (7 goals, 2 assists), although only one of those goals or assists has come away from home, scoring for Shrewsbury in a 5-1 win at Stratford Town in November 2021.

Burnley travel to Premier League side Southampton in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday afternoon (15:00 GMT).

The Clarets' best recent run in the competition was in 2022-23 when they reached the quarter-final - and is the only time they have made it that far since 2002-03 when they were also knocked out at the same stage.

• Southampton have won just two of their past 11 matches against Burnley (D4 L5) – all in the Premier League between 2017 and 2022 – with both wins coming in the 2020-21 season.

• The two previous FA Cup ties between Southampton and Burnley were in 1908 and 2014 and both were won by the Saints, winning 2-1 away in the first round in 1907-08 and 4-3 at home in the third round in 2013-14.

• Southampton have won eight of their past 10 home matches in the FA Cup (L2), winning the past three in a row at St Mary's all by a 3+ goal margin without conceding.

• Burnley have been eliminated in nine of their past 11 FA Cup ties against Premier League sides while playing outside of the top-flight at the time; the two progressions in this time came during seasons they won promotion, in 2008-09 against West Brom and 2022-23 against Bournemouth.

• Burnley's Zian Flemming has been involved in four goals in his past two FA Cup matches (3 goals, 1 assist), scoring two extra-time goals in the Clarets' 3-1 win over Reading in this season's third round.

Image source, Getty Images

Coventry midfielder Jamie Allen, Oxford United defender Ciaron Brown, Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson and Burnley stopper James Trafford are the four nominees for the Championship's player of the month award for January.

Allen was injured when Frank Lampard first took over at the Sky Blues but his return to action helped City climb the table with his energy, ability to break up play and influence leading to him being handed the captain's armband.

Oxford's form since Gary Rowett took over has caught the eye and Brown has been at the heart of their improved defensive displays, helping the U's keep three clean sheets in six games in January and netting a neat equaliser against Luton to boot.

Black Cats keeper Patterson helped Sunderland keep three clean sheets in five games during the month, saving a penalty at 0-0 in an eventual win against Sheffield United, producing a brilliant one-handed stop in the goalless draw at Burnley and helping preserve a 1-0 win at Derby.

Clarets keeper Trafford was unbeatable in January with a pristine record of six clean sheets with the highlights coming in that stalemate against Burnley's promotion rivals as he saved two Wilson Isidor penalties in the dying minutes against Sunderland as well as making a crucial late stop against Leeds.