It’s a huge game at the top of The Championship tonight as Scott Parker’s 2nd placed Burnley side (52 points) host Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland side who are currently in 4th position (50 points).

Both sides have made early moves in the transfer window. Burnley have seen the arrival of Peruvian defender Oliver Sonne from Danish side Silkeborg as well as the return of club legend Ashley Barnes on a free transfer from Norwich after his contract was terminated by mutual consent. On the other hand, Sunderland have made the most Football Manager signing of all time with the loan signing of Enzo Le Fee from Italian giants Roma. Le Bris has hinted Le Fee may start on Le Bench despite his obvious talent.

"I think first of all, he's ready to play," Le Bris said.

"Sometimes this is not possible when you sign a player because they have not played a lot, they are injured... but Enzo is really fit. And at the same time, we have to respect the legacy. A new player can come in and say, 'I'm here to change everything'. Here it is not possible because the identity of the team is very strong, the quality is important and he has to make the steps to connect with the team. It depends on many things, the game, the scenario, the players available and so on. He is ready and at the same he has to connect with the team, so we will see for Friday."

Right then that’s the formalities out of the way, what are we betting on? 

💰 Punt: Over 4.5 Total Cards & Over 6.5 Total Cards
📗 Bookie: Betfair Sportsbook/Paddy Power
🎲 Odds: 1.95 (19/20) & 5.50 (9/2)
⚽️ Game: Burnley vs. Sunderland

Both sides clashes with those around them at the top of the table have been full of cards.

Sunderland’s fixtures vs. fellow promotion chasing sides:

• Burnley (H) - 7 yellow cards & 1 red card 🍓

• Leeds (H) - 6 yellow cards

• Sheffield United (A) - 8 yellow cards & 2 red cards 🍓 🍓

• Sheffield United (H) - 5 yellow cards

Burnley’s fixtures vs. fellow promotion chasing sides:

• Sunderland (A) - 7 yellow cards & 1 red card 🍓 

• Leeds (A) - 9 yellow cards & 1 red card 🍓

• Sheffield United (A) - 4 yellow cards

Referee for this one is Anthony Backhouse. He can blow hot and cold when it comes to reaching to his pocket. When he’s hot, he’s hotter than the Palisades Fire in LA as shown on New Year’s Day when he officiated the League 1 clash between Mansfield and Bolton and dished out 9 yellow cards, on the flip side, when he’s cold, he’s colder than Alexander Isak in front of goal which is evidenced by his appointment in the Hull vs. Leeds match where he showed just the 1 yellow card.

As Katy Perry famously sang

Cause you're hot then you're cold
You're yes then you're no
You're in then you're out
You're up then you're down
You're wrong when it's right
It's black and it's white
We fight, we break up
We back Over 4.5 Total Cards in Burnley vs. Sunderland, we make up.

The only caveat for taking this bet on Betfair Sportsbook or Paddy Power is that they only count a red card as 1 card whereas Bet365 count a red card as two cards. Sunderland rank 8th for ill-discipline with 56 yellow cards and 3 red cards whilst Burnley rank 13th with 51 yellow cards and 2 red cards. Only Preston North End (13.7) are committing more fouls per game than Burnley (13.1). Furthermore, Sunderland are the most fouled team in The Championship winning 12.5 fouls per game.

Burnley’s most fouled players: 

• Connor Roberts (1.7 per game)

• Hannibal Mejbri (1.5 per game) - suspended for tonight

• Josh Cullen (1.3 per game)

Sunderland’s most fouled players:

• Romaine Mundle (1.7 per game)

• Chris Rigg (1.5 per game)

• Dennis Cirkin (1.4 per game)

Burnley players committing the most fouls:

• Luca Koleosho (1.7 per game)

• Zian Flemming (1.6 per game)

• Hannibal Mejbri (1.6 per game)

• Josh Brownhill (1.4 per game)

• Josh Cullen (1.4 per game)

Sunderland players committing the most fouls:

• Romaine Mundle (1.8 per game)

• Dennis Cirkin (1.2 per game)

• Dan Neil (1.1 per game)

• Jobe Bellingham (1.1 per game)

Player card double, anyone?

I’m taking a punt on both Connor Roberts and Romaine Mundle to find their way into the referee’s notebook.

Mundle had 9 foul involvements when these sides met in August, committing 5 fouls and being fouled 4 times. On the other hand, Roberts didn’t commit a foul however he was fouled 7 times. All 5 of Mundle’s fouls were committed on the Welsh right-back in that game. Episode 2 of the Mundle & Roberts show tonight should hopefully lead to familiarity breeding contempt and a dust-up or two off the ball, iz iz. 👜

If you have a Bet Victor account, Romaine Mundle is best priced there to be booked at 7.00 (6/1). Connor Roberts is best priced 5.50 (9/2) with SkyBet to be shown a card. The double is best priced with Bet Victor at 30.00 (29/1), however, it’s roughly around 16/1 - 20/1 with most bookies which is still fine to take a punt on.

For clarity, I’ve backed Connor Roberts and Romaine Mundle to be booked at 19.00 (18/1) with Bet365.