Lancashire

Image source, Getty Images

Burnley boss Scott Parker says he was "wrong" after he was given a one-match touchline ban following his red card against West Bromwich Albion.

The ban means Parker will miss Burnley's game against Bristol City on Saturday as they chase down a spot in the top two.

"Obviously disappointed but at the time, I did wrong. I approached the referee at the end of the game and I didn't realise you can't go and approach a referee and I did that," Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"Never was I once abusive or aggressive, I was just asking a question, but I understand fully it was probably the wrong image."

Parker will return for Burnley's match away to Coventry City on 5 April.

However, good news for the Clarets is that midfielder Aaron Ramsey will be adding some match minutes to a season rocked by injury.

The 22-year-old has not featured for Burnley since February 2024 after suffering a long-term knee injury but Parker is eager to get the midfielder game time.

"While I'm excited and enthusiastic about Aaron in terms of how he's progressing, I'm always conscious of someone whose been out so long," Parker said.

"There's different hurdles you need to jump and the next hurdle for him is a live game, either with the [under] 21's or the reserves, hopefully see him come out of that and see where he gets to before the end of the season."

Image source, Rex Features

Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford says his call-up into the England senior squad is great recognition for what the Clarets are doing as a club in the Championship.

The former Manchester City stopper has kept 26 clean sheets in 37 league matches this season and was selected in Thomas Tuchel's squad for the Fifa World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia, although he did not play in either game.

"It's good to get recognised for what you're doing at your club - to get picked was and is a goal of mine, and to play [is a goal too]," he told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"I knew it was extremely tough to get called up playing in the Championship but only I could get myself called up, so I tried to perform and it's good recognition for the club and for what we're doing together in the defence and the team."

Trafford will return to league action with Burnley when they host Bristol City on Saturday (15:00 GMT), looking to maintain their challenge for automatic promotion, but added he was pleased with his first England senior experience.

"It's a very welcoming atmosphere because they're all really nice, normal people and they're very welcoming because they want to achieve the same goals, so it's positive," he added.

Both Burnley and Bristol City will be looking to cross their respective lines when they meet on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

For the Clarets, they are are eyeing a spot in the automatic promotion places. Just two points separating them and the two teams (Leeds and Sheffield United) above them.

Whereas for the Robins, they are even closer to a place in the top six. Seventh placed Bristol City are level on points with sixth placed West Bromwich Albion and two away from fifth placed Coventry City.

Both in form, both with a big potential prize on the line.

• Burnley have won each of their last seven league games against Bristol City, winning those by a combined aggregate scoreline of 18-7.

• Bristol City have failed to win any of their last six away league games against Burnley (D2 L4), since a 1-0 victory at Turf Moor in December 2007.

• Burnley are unbeaten across their last 25 league games (W15 D10), the Clarets' longest victory without defeat since a 30-match stint between September 1920 and March 1921.

• Bristol City are unbeaten across their last five away league games (W1 D4), last enjoying a longer run without defeat on the road between November 2022 and February 2023 (six games).

• Bristol City have hit the woodwork 14 times in the Championship this season; only Norwich City (15) have done so on more occasions.