The Championship promotion race is about to hit the house straight, with three groups vying for the 2 automated promotion locations and the Premier League riches that accompany it.
Sheffield United at present prepared the ground, with Chris Wilder’s group overtaking Leeds United on the summit this weekend to open up a two-point hole above their Yorkshire rivals. Daniel Farke’s aspect have Lancashire rivals Burnley scorching on their heels, with simply purpose distinction preserving Scott Parker’s males out of the highest two.
With Sunderland an extra 9 factors behind the highest three, it seems to be like being two from three, with the trio all determined to keep away from being the odd one out and dropping into the play-offs.
Burnley shut on on 71-year document
Burnley’s Turf Moor stadium
Just like the Blades, Parker’s Burnley aspect wish to instantly bounce again to the highest flight on the first time of asking and helped their trigger with a hard-fought 1-0 win at dwelling to Bristol Metropolis on the weekend.
That was the Clarets’ seventh 1-0 victory of the Championship season, and because the season has progressed, it has been clear what the previous Fulham and Bournemouth bosses’ promotion blueprint has been.
Burnley stopper James Trafford has marshalled a water-tight defence this season (Picture credit score: Ryan Pierse/Getty Photos)
Parker clearly believes that promotion again to the highest flight will be achieved primarily by means of a water-tight defence, along with his aspect having conceded simply 11 objectives of their 39 Championship video games up to now this time period.
This has led to Burney registering 28 clear sheets up to now, which has put them inside placing distance of the document for probably the most clear sheets in a season in English soccer historical past.
Saturday’s newest clean leaves Burnley third within the all-time standings, with simply Gillingham (29 clear sheets in 1995/95) and present document holders Port Vale forward of them.
The Valiants managed 30 clear sheets in 1953/54, a document that has stood for 71 years, however is now beneath risk. Burnley have seven Championship video games of the season remaining and would want two clear sheets to equal the document and three to interrupt it.
Burnley have been relegated beneath Vincent Kompany final season (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
Their remaining schedule sees them tackle Coventry Metropolis (a), Derby County (h), Norwich Metropolis (h), Watford (a), Sheffield United (h), QPR (a) and Millwall (h).
Earlier this season Burnley turned the primary group within the historical past of the second tier to clock up 10 consecutive clear sheets, once they went 1,214 minutes with out conceding on their solution to 12 shutouts in a row – two in need of Manchester United’s all-time English document of 14 consecutive cleansheets.
