Lancashire

Image source, Rex Features

Burnley's 5-0 drubbing of Plymouth Argyle at Home Park on Wednesday means that they now hold the joint record for the most clean sheets and least goals conceded at this point in the season across EFL history.

The Clarets have let slip just nine goals so far, with keeper James Trafford keeping an incredible 19 clean sheets out of their 28 Championship games.

If Trafford manages to keep clean sheets for the rest of the season, NFL legend J.J. Watt has made a deal, external with Burnley's number one that he will come out of retirement to join up with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Just the 18 games to go then!

Burnley midfielders Zian Flemming and Josh Laurent both scored twice to help the Clarets to a thumping 5-0 thrashing of basement dwellers Plymouth Argyle.

Of the top four Championship clubs, Burnley have the lowest tally of goals with 36, while league leaders Leeds United have scored the most with 53.

But the win over Argyle was the second time they have managed five goals in a match this season, having beaten Cardiff City by the same score in August.

"It's lovely to get so many goals on the scoresheet, that's something we've lacked a little bit this season," Flemming told BBC Radio Lancashire after the match.

"It's something that we knew that we can do but it's obviously nice that it happened tonight."

Laurent's double also marked the 29-year-old's first goals for the club since arriving from Stoke City in August.

For the Englishman, it has been a long time coming.

"I just follow the patterns and trust my team-mates as always," Laurent said.

"I probably owed the boys, I've missed a few sitters so happy I got a few tonight."

Millwall boss Alex Neil is preparing a bid for 22-year-old Wolves midfielder Luke Cundle, who has also been linked with Preston North End, Swansea City and Bristol City. (South London Press, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip page.

Image source, Rex Features

Burnley head coach Scott Parker spoke to BBC Sport following their 5-0 win at Plymouth.

"I thought we were superb tonight," he said.

"We came here with a real clear idea and a game plan. We set that up as coaches, it's down to players to then execute and the players were absolutely first class.

"We needed to come here with a mentality and mindset about us, this is a tough place to come, I know people look at league tables and may see a very different story.

"But a new manager in, an aggressive team, I played against this coach once in Belgium and had some struggles in a sense of how he sets up teams, so I knew the challenge here.

"We were just ruthless tonight. I thought we had everything about us."

Scott Read
BBC Radio Lancashire

Image source, Rex Features

With 10 minutes still to play in the first half at Home Park, Scott Parker was walking calmy back and forth along the touchline, a few paces one way and then a few back, his hands in his pockets, his green jacket keeping him warm, as it has done so far this winter.

His team had just scored a third goal, the first time since August they'd scored more than twice in league game.

By half-time they'd scored two more. The game was over at the break.

A team which has been built on solid foundations, just nine goals against in 28 games so far. Solid foundations and the rest will follow, at least that's the theory. Tonight it was, empathically.

Ruthless in front of goal, the gulf between the two sides was stark.

Unlike the gulf between the top four, there is currently nothing in it.

The top four have all won in this midweek round of fixtures.

Perhaps its points against each other that might be the difference between finishing in the top two, and missing out.

It's Leeds United next for Burnley on Monday night.

New Preston North End signing Jayden Meghoma grabbed his first assist for the club when he set up team-mate Milutin Osmajic for an opener in their 2-1 win over Watford.

"It's an amazing feeling," Meghoma told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"The main thing for me is to impress the fans and to give them a show, to make sure we get the three points all the time."

The Brentford loanee joined North End on Thursday and has featured in both of Preston's Championship matches since linking up with the squad.

The Lilywhites also claimed a point in a goalless draw at Luton Town last Saturday.

The move from the Bees has given the teenager his first taste of life in the Championship and, so far, it has appeared seamless.

"It's been fantastic," Meghoma added. "Everybody's been brilliant so it's an easy place to settle into."

Ross Heaton
BBC Radio Lancashire Sport

Image source, Rex Features

Montenegrin Milutin Osmajic returned to the dressing room at full-time with team-mate Ryan Ledson leading a rendition of a terrace song sung by Preston North End fans – a clear sign of the appreciation of his match-winning performance.

His strength and power were simply too much for the Watford backline who could only resort to fouling him in order to prevent his progress.

He scored two goals with different finishes...

Firstly, a sublime left-footed cross from debutant Jayden Meghoma saw Osmajic dart into the six-yard box to apply the decisive touch from close range.

His second, after the break, came from a move he started - outmuscling his man, he laid off the ball neatly to Mads Frokjaer-Jensen before spinning in behind and emphatically smashing it home at the near post.

Brains and brawn combined on a night he moved into double figures for the season.

Leeds United are interested in Burnley attacking midfielder Mike Tresor, who has also been linked with a move to Dutch side Ajax. (Sports Witness, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip here.

Image source, Rex Features

Preston assistant Stuart McCall stood in for Paul Heckingbottom at the post-match press conference following the manager's red card at half time.

He said the win was built on solid preparation work and a fine defensive display, telling BBC Radio Lancashire:

"We trained this morning and discussed how we wanted to come and play and overall it was another strong defensive performance.

"There was a little slip - you don't let (Rocco) Vata come inside on his right foot, and it was a really good goal by the kid.

"But we're delighted with the victory but obviously with the level of performance as well."