Lancashire

These sides will go into Sunday's game at The Hawthorns (12:00 BST) full of confidence.

West Brom opened the campaign with a 2-1 win at Norwich City while Burnley came from 2-0 down at home to West Ham to claim a draw at Turf Moor.

• West Bromwich Albion are winless across each of their past seven league games against Burnley (D5 L2), since a 1-0 away win on matchday two of the 2017-18 Premier League campaign.

• Burnley lost each of their first six away meetings with West Bromwich Albion this century but are unbeaten in their most recent four, drawing each of the past three (W1).

• After beating Norwich 2-1, West Brom are looking to win the opening two games of a league campaign in successive seasons. Prior to that, West Brom had completed the feat just once since 1998-99 onwards (2017-18).

• Burnley went unbeaten in each of their final 16 Championship away games en route to promotion in 2025 (W11 D5) and only three teams have had longer runs in the competition's history (since 2004-05): Leicester City (20, ending in Oct 2023), Hull City (17, ending in April 2011) and Reading (17 ending in Feb 2006).

• Since the start of 2024, West Brom have won just one of their 14 league games against sides relegated form the Premier League the season prior (D8 L5), though are unbeaten across their last six at home (W1 D5).

Burnley are targeting a move for Feyenoord defender Anel Ahmedhodzic. The 27-year-old Bosnian is also interesting former club Sheffield United and Southampton. (Anthony Joseph - Sky Sports), external

Meanwhile, the Clarets could be set to lose forward Zian Flemming. French Ligue 1 side Lille are interested in signing the 28-year-old Dutch striker who has already scored three goals this season. (Fabrice Hawkins - RMC Sport), external

Read more of Thursday's EFL gossip here.

This is a meeting between two founder members of the English Football League with Preston winning 4-0 on the second weekend of the 1888-89 season.

Since then, Preston have won 49 of their encounters while Wolves have recorded 47 victories and there have been 27 draws in all competitions.

• Each of Preston's past four home league games against Wolves have finished as draws since a 3-1 loss in September 2008. It is the same amount of stalemates as across their prior 18 home meetings with Wolves combined.

• Wolves have lost just one of their past eight league games against Preston North End (W3 D4), with this the first meeting between the pair since a 1-1 draw in February 2018.

• Preston have lost just two of their past 11 league games against sides relegated from the Premier League the season prior (W4 D5), though did lose their most recent on home soil against Southampton in May (1-3).

• Since the start of the 2021-22 season, Wolves have failed to win any of their past 11 matches played on the opening two days of a campaign, losing each of their five away games in that run while netting just one goal in total.

• On the opening day of the 2026-27 Championship season, no player completed more successful passes than Wolves defender Toti Gomes (88), while his 95.7% pass accuracy rate was the strongest of any player to produce 40+ completed passes in the competition.

Burnley and Southampton have moved ahead of Sheffield United in the race for £4m rated Bosnian defender Anel Ahmedhodzic, 27, who joined Feyenoord from the Blades last summer. (The Star, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip column here.

Preston and Stoke are set to be disappointed in their pursuit of Hull City defender Cody Drameh who reportedly wants to remain with the Premier League club. The two Championship clubs are reported to have offered £1m for the right-back. (Sky Sports), external

Find more of Tuesday's EFL gossip here.

Natalie Bromley
Fan writer

Image source, Shutterstock

I jumped from my seat. Punched the air. And screamed until my throat felt hoarse.

Burnley had scored a late, late equaliser in a pulsating game, with no VAR to destroy the joy, and the Turf Moor faithful had nothing to do but glance briefly at the flag and raise the roof.

It has been such a very long time since I experienced that level of joy at a club football match.

So much has already been written about the misery of the past three seasons and how the football was becoming almost too unbearable to watch.

It felt like a collective relief and hope was in the east Lancashire air, with a new cohort of players connecting with its loyal fans and fighting until the final whistle was blown.

And the spearhead for this new era? New manager Nicky Hayen, who just seems to 'get us'.

He spent the week leading up the game meeting with the fan advisory board and getting to know what we want, while also articulating his expectations (booing = a no).

A meeting of minds and philosophies all came to a head on Sunday afternoon, as players greeted fans on arrival, warmed up in front of the busiest home stands, whipped up the support during the game and then enjoyed a lap of honour when every player applauded every supporter and thanked them for being there. With eye contact!

New signings Max Alleyne and Ugo Raghouber looked sprightly and promising, with moments of composure well beyond their years.

Old guards Zeki Amdouni and Armando Broja did exactly what you want substitutes to do - change the game. And Zian Flemming did what Zian Flemming does best. Scores goals.

The focus before the game was all about West Ham. How they will walk the league with record points.

Maybe they will, but Burnley FC are masters of the Championship and have found themselves a very promising manager, who is reconnecting the club from top to bottom.

We can, and should, push them all the way for that title.

There is one piece of the puzzle left. Burnley fans asked for Parker to be sacked. Now it's our turn to show up and uphold our end of the bargain.

We got what we wanted, now we need to back this new team and this new manager and march on to the Championship title together. Again.

Find more from Natalie Bromley at No Nay Never podcast, external