Burnley have sealed a return to the Premier League on the first time of asking.
Promotion was secured after beating third-placed Sheffield United 2-1 at Turf Moor – extending their unbeaten run to an astonishing 31 video games – bouncing straight again to the highest flight, simply as they did after their final two relegations in 2015 and 2022.
Leeds had earlier thrashed Stoke 6-0 to go high of the Championship on 94 factors with two matches remaining and wanted Burnley to then not lose to the third-placed Blades to ensure each would end inside the highest two.
Burnley duly obliged, leaving Chris Wilder’s aspect going through the prospect of attempting to affix them by way of the play-offs.
Scott Parker – who has now gained promotion to the Premier League with a 3rd totally different membership after reaching the feat with Fulham and Bournemouth – has overseen one other outstanding season, with Burnley final tasting defeat within the league over 5 months in the past at Millwall.
Ought to Parker’s aspect keep away from defeat of their ultimate two matches they’ll equal Studying’s document of 33 video games unbeaten.
Each Burnley and Leeds stay in with an opportunity of ending on 100 factors.
‘Bored our approach to the Premier League’
Burnley captain Josh Brownhill joked the Clarets had “bored our approach to the Premier League” after their promotion-sealing win over Sheffield United.
Parker’s aspect have conceded simply 15 targets in 44 matches and victory over their promotion rivals ensured they may not be caught.
“I am speechless. All that onerous work this season. We have been written off so many instances, folks calling us boring, however we have bored our approach to the Premier League once more,” Brownhill, who scored each targets in opposition to Sheffield United, instructed Sky Sports activities.
“The sensation is completely unbelievable. I do not assume loads of the lads will sleep.
“I am simply so buzzing for lots of the lads who have not performed Premier League soccer, how a lot it means to them to get this membership again into the Premier League.”
Parker: We have promotion, now we would like title
Burnley boss Scott Parker:
“It means every part. We set on a mission to get promoted and there have been loads of ups and down. It has been nothing wanting unbelievable. So pleased with the younger group, who’ve dedicated and given every part.
“This one feels extra particular. I’ve had some bumps within the highway as a supervisor. I made a decision to take a yr out and are available in to this understanding there was an enormous problem forward. I am relieved and comfortable.”
Requested if the Championship title stays an vital motivation this season, he added: “We’ll go for it. We’ll take pleasure in in the present day, however we wish to go for the title. That is precisely our intention.”
Proprietor Alan Tempo paid tribute to the person he appointed in the summertime to switch Vincent Kompany.
“I can not say sufficient in regards to the job he has performed. He has outperformed something he might have mentioned (once they met),” he mentioned.
“He’s a residing legend and he has proven a number of instances methods to deal with this league.
“We noticed a person who knew methods to not solely reside one of the best model of himself, however methods to carry that out in others.”
Burnley’s record-breaking season
Burnley have overwhelmed a long-standing membership document 31 league video games with out defeat, set 104 years in the past (1920-1921).
The run represents the second longest unbeaten steak for the reason that Championship rebranded in 2004-05 – solely Studying’s (33) is longer.
They’ve conceded 15 Championship targets this season – the fewest targets ever conceded in a 46-game season is 20 by Gillingham in 1995/96. The document in a 46-game second tier season is 28 targets by Sunderland in 1998/99.
‘Unbelievable achievement’
Sky Sports activities’ Michael Brown:
“He has that perception and he introduced a calmness to the coaching floor. He has been round it and I believe the membership took it as a special model.
“For him to come back in and discover a method, he stored it primary at first to ensure they have been onerous to beat. Individuals will criticise for being boring however that’s ridiculous.
“They received higher and higher in direction of the top of the season, then they got here out with aptitude. Gamers stepped up. I believe it’s an unbelievable achievement.”
Sky Sports activities’ Jobi McAnuff:
“That is the time it comes pouring out. You attempt to maintain it collectively but it surely simply comes out.
“The quantity you set in and the sacrifices you need to make. Scott Parker needed to discover a approach to get this group promoted. Sure, it isn’t all targets however that takes a lot work.
“To get the self-discipline, then it is about constructing. They’ve constructed the momentum to what we now have seen in the present day.”
