Vincent Kompany believes his tabletopping Burnley side and Sunderland share similar attacking 'DNA' as the teams prepare to go head-to-head at Turf Moor tomorrow. The Black Cats travel to Lancashire to take on the Clarets tomorrow evening, with Kompany's men 13 points clear at the top of the table closing in on securing an immediate return to the Premier League following relegation last season.
Burnley are the Championship's top scorers with their 74-goal haul meaning they average two goals per game. Tony Mowbray's Sunderland have made a name for themselves as an attacking side and have scored 53 goals in their 38 games, which is a tally beaten only by the top three sides in the division - Burnley, Middlesbrough (69) and Sheffield United (58).
And former Manchester City and Belgium star Kompany says there are parallels between the attacking styles of the two teams. "I think if football was a language, then I think we speak a similar language in terms of being from a similar family of where there's many things they do that for me, I think the threat of the wingers is something similar," he said.
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"We have also quite a good threat with our wingers. The midfielders that get on the ball and actually progress play, their ability to switch play and then create space for the wide men.
"The way they attack the box as well, they're on the front foot most of the time, so [Sunderland] is a team that at least on that side I understand very well, because we are from a similar family of football. But those games are also usually interesting not just for the fans of the two teams, but I think for the neutrals as well.
"I think it's in the DNA of both teams to go forward in this game and that's what will happen."
Burnley are just three wins away from securing automatic promotion and are unbeaten at home this season. But Sunderland gave them a scare at the Stadium of Light in October, taking a 2-0 lead into the half-time break - and Kompany still feels that that is the worst 45 minutes he has seen from his side this season.
Ultimately, Burnley came back to win 4-2 but Kompany says his side has a point to prove tomorrow. He said: "For me that game is still one that sits very high on my list in terms of I still think we’ve got a lot to show in this game.
"The first half for me was the worst we've played this season and not in terms of the opposition because they were good, but in terms of who we are as a team. I feel we still have a point to prove.
"It doesn't matter whether we turn it on for 45 minutes and then did well. For me we've still got a point to prove in this game.
"I'm looking forward to hopefully be able to show the real side of us."
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