Lancashire

Image source, Rex Features

Burnley manager Scott Parker admits it is surprising his side did not win the Championship after their performance this season, but is "proud" following their 3-1 win over Millwall.

Captain Josh Brownhill's brace either side of Jaidon Anthony's strike confirmed the Clarets' 100-point haul for the campaign and looked like being enough to secure the title.

But Leeds' stoppage time win at Plymouth spoilt the party, not that Parker is too downhearted.

"I'm so proud. We came into today hoping it would go our way, but wanting to win the game and get to 100 points, we did that," he told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"If you'd have said to me you'd reach 100 points, 33 games unbeaten, 16 goals conceded and you wouldn't win the league I'd have said 'no chance'. We've done remarkably this year."

Millwall opened the scoring through Mihailo Ivanovic's goal, and Parker praised his side's mentality in response.

"Over the past month or so, when we've gone a goal down, the players' reaction is one of needing to get back in it. We were superb today, we had real quality, created numerous chances; on another day it could have been a lot more.

"The challenge goes up a level or two next year. We've got a rock solid foundation and we've proven that this season. We are going to rest, reboot and we'll come into next year with a driving ambition to be as successful as we can."

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Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom says it is "pointless worrying" about relegation before Saturday's decisive game against Bristol City.

The Lancashire side are only one point above the relegation zone after a winless run of seven league games and can only guarantee safety with a victory, although even if they lose, Hull City and Luton will both need a point away at Portsmouth and West Brom respectively to send Preston down.

However, the Robins are also chasing points to firm up a place in the play-offs, with a win securing their top-six spot.

"The thinking about it, the worrying about it, is worse than being in it," Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"It's a game we want to win, we need to win. There will be a different dynamic to it because Bristol City are thinking the same thing.

"It's pointless worrying about it. We can't take any of that into the game."

While events at other matches may affect the overall outcome for either team and Heckingbottom will have one eye on what is happening elsewhere, he says he won't take too much notice until the match nears its conclusion.

"I only think it comes into play in the last five minutes," he added. "Even if the game is in the balance for both sets of managers, when it gets to the end and you're thinking about substitutions and things, you've got to know."

Heckingbottom will not be present in the dugout for North End's final game after receiving a two-match ban on Friday.

Alex Fletcher
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

With just four games to go in the Premier League this season relegation has been decided.

For the second season in a row, all three promoted clubs have been sent straight back down, and 14 points separates those in the relegation zone and 17th placed West Ham.

Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town have just 10 wins between them this season, and there is still a chance that the Saints finish the campaign as the joint-worst Premier League team of all time.

But where did it all go wrong?

A struggle to survive

According to Opta, this is the worst combined points total of any group of promoted sides at this stage of the season in Premier League history

The three teams have only managed to get 50 points between them - after just 34 games - and are 14 points behind the previous record which was set last year by Sheffield United, Burnley and Luton Town.

While Leicester and Southampton have seen changes in the dugout this season, Ipswich have stuck with Kieran McKenna, but this has not changed their fortunes.

Between them, they have picked up just 21 points at home, with Southampton and Ipswich winning just once in-front of their own fans.

Promoted sides face 'more of a challenge'

And things look set to get even more difficult for those coming up from the Championship.

According to Opta, five of the lowest eight Premier League points totals for promoted sides after 34 games have come in the last eight years. Southampton are currently on the joint-lowest points total ever at this stage of the season, alongside Derby County.

Speaking before his sides relegation, Ipswich boss McKenna said the gap between the Premier League and the Championship "is getting bigger" and that "it's been getting more of a challenge for clubs to be able to bridge that".