Burnley

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."

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".

Burnley and Millwall are both on the hunt - but will either side be able to find what they are looking for when they meet at Turf Moor on Saturday (12:30 BST)?

For the Clarets, it's the Championship title they have their eye on but they'll need to better Leeds' result to obtain it.

Whereas the Lions are looking for a spot in the play-offs but are one of five contenders, currently sitting the middle of the pack just one place outside the top six.

So long as they win and Coventry City or Bristol City do not, it's theirs, but they will also need to be the first visiting side to claim victory at Turf Moor all season. A big ask.

• Burnley have lost just one of their last seven league games against Millwall (W3 D3), though that sole defeat did come in the reverse meeting in November last year (1-0).

• Millwall will be looking to record their first league double over Burnley since the 1997-98 campaign during which they won at Turf Moor 2-1.

• Burnley are unbeaten across their last seven Championship matches on the final day of the season (W4 D3), since a 5-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in May 2008.

• Since December 2020, Millwall have won just two of their last 12 away league games against sides from Lancashire (D5 L5), 4-2 and 3-2 wins against Preston and Blackpool respectively during the 2022-23 campaign.

• Burnley are currently unbeaten across their last 32 league games, with only Reading in 2005-06 (33) and Huddersfield Town between January and November 2011 (43) ever having a longer run in the English Football League outside of the top tier.

Image source, Getty Images

Burnley have announced an evening of celebrations on Tuesday, 6 May to mark the club's return to the Premier League.

Scott Parker and his squad will appear on the balcony at Burnley Town Hall for interviews from 18:15 BST, before an hour-long open-top bus parade at 19:00 takes them to Turf Moor.

The route will take the bus down Manchester Road, on to pedestrianised St James' Street, across the crossroads into Yorkshire Street and finally into Harry Potts Way and Turf Moor.

A statement, external added that the players will not be appearing at Turf Moor and no public events are planned at the stadium.

An afternoon of activities including "fun challenges and prizes" are planned from midday until 16:30 in the build-up to the squad's arrival, the club said, adding: "In the coming days, fans will be able pick up special brochures detailing the locations, timings and how to win prizes.

"More information on where these can be collected will follow shortly."

Image source, PA Media

Burnley boss Scott Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire after his side's 5-0 victory at QPR:

"It was a classy performance - I thought we were excellent.

"Everything we prepped for the game, the boys nailed it to a tee. We were pretty ruthless and I asked for that.

"It's been a busy week, full of excitement and joy and a bit of relief as well.

"We needed to switch that mindset and become this ruthless animal that we've been for large parts this year - we were superb."

Image source, Rex Features

Burnley are "hopeful" of securing the futures of defender CJ Egan-Riley and midfielder Josh Brownhill, according to boss Scott Parker.

The Clarets secured an immediate return to the Premier League by beating Sheffield United 2-1 on Easter Monday and Parker's attentions have turned to getting the out-of-contract duo to sign new deals.

"They are ongoing conversations we've been having over the last few months and we'll keep engaging with," he said ahead of Saturday's match at QPR (12:30 BST).

"Probably now we all know and there's real clarity on where we're going to be (next season), hopefully we can get some conclusions on both of them."

Egan-Riley has featured in 39 of Burnley's 44 league games this season while Brownhill has scored 16 goals in 42 appearances.

"I am confident - I know both the players have loved this year and been vital to what we've done," added Parker. "Obviously you never know but hopefully we can get to a point where we'll have a bit of clarity on that."

Having secured automatic promotion, Burnley will continue the battle for the title when they visit Queen's Park Rangers on Saturday (12:30 BST).

The Clarets won promotion after defeating rivals Sheffield United on Monday but now turn their attentions to winning the league.

They are currently in second place but level on points with Leeds United, bested only by goal difference.

However the title is not the only thing the Lancashire side are vying for, they could also match Reading's unbeaten Championship record if they keep themselves undefeated across their final two league games.

• QPR have won just one of their last seven home league games against Burnley (D3 L3), a 2-0 victory in the Premier League in December 2014.

• Burnley have kept a clean sheet in four of their last five league games against QPR, with the exception being a 2-1 home loss in April 2023.

• After winning seven of their eight home league games between December and February (L1), QPR are now winless in their last five at Loftus Road (D3 L2).

• Burnley are unbeaten in their last 31 league games (W20 D11). It's their longest run in their league history, while only Reading (33 in 2005-06) have had a longer run in a single second tier campaign.

• Burnley have conceded just 15 goals in the Championship this season, despite having an xG against figure of 36.3. Their record of conceding 21 goals fewer than their xGA suggests is at least 10 more than any other side this season.

David Unsworth
Former Burnley defender on BBC Radio Lancashire

Image source, PA Media

What does success look like for Scotty Parker next year in the Premier League? If he survives the first season, it's a brilliant season. Survival is key.

You only have to look at clubs that are promoted; they usually go straight back down.

Celebrations quickly turn into a survival campaign. That's how you build a club. That's what Sean Dyche did. Stay in the Premier League the first year and build from there.

I hope he [Parker] is backed in the transfer market in terms of recruitment and given the money that he deserves because he is a fine, fine young manager.

I knew Scotty Parker was a good young coach, but I didn't realise how good he actually was until he came to this football club.

He's a young man with great experience already. He's got three promotions under his belt, and the sky is the limit for him.

He should be getting amazing plaudits. I don't think he does. I don't think he gets the acclaim and the plaudits that he is due.

The way he's turned it around in a short period and then from January, it's incredible.

If this guy is not up for manager of the year, there is something wrong.

Image source, PA Media

We asked you how it feels to see Burnley win promotion back to the Premier League and whether they can stay up next season.

Here's what you said:

Alan: For a mostly new squad to achieve what they have done is beyond belief. The whole club have been magnificent in giving supporters a team to get behind and believe in again. Superb.

Tom: This promotion feels completely different to last time. Last time, it felt as if the plan was to get promoted after a few seasons in the Championship rebuilding and preparing. This time it definitely was the plan. I feel we are much better set up for the PL now. Our defence is so solid so hopefully we can grind out the results next season. I hope Parker's backed financially in the summer to buy a proper striker otherwise we're in trouble.

James: It's such a mixed bag. It's absolute elation in the moment, especially considering the turbulence at the start of the season in terms of new manager and the exodus. On the other hand, it's tinged with looking up the record of the most recently promoted teams and the experience of last year. The gulf is only getting bigger and it'll take something Herculean to stay up now we're back.

Joe: It's a great feeling to secure the promotion, but a bit apprehensive for next season. Our last run in the Prem was miserable. Scott Parker's style will be more suited in the Prem but seeing how the promoted teams have got on this year doesn't inspire much confidence.

Frank: Defensively Scott Parker has done an incredible job. To go 31 games undefeated in this league has been an awesome achievement, conceding only 15 goals all season thus far. Like all clubs, Burnley need a reliable high-scoring striker (or two!) - their top scorer with 15 goals, Brownhill, plays in midfield, and this lack of goals from the front men will be a major issue next season in the Premier League. Burnley's location to the Manchester clubs and good relationships may help them get quality loanees from either club which would help from both a quality and financial aspect. I think Burnley have a good chance of surviving next season.

Richard: Burnley should do better than Leeds in the Premier League next season if they can keep hold of Parker and back him. Good luck and congratulations. East Lancashire needs a settled Premier League club.

Matt: Consistency and defensive brilliance all season and the winning results have started to come. They have deserved promotion - not forgetting Sheffield United had a two-point deduction. Burnley have had a massive transition with 50+ ins and outs. Remarkable what Scott Parker has achieved. We need strength in depth across the defence and midfield, we need a number 9 who is going to get 15+ goals a season. Survival in 17th place has to be the aim.

Clifford: We were incredible, fulfilled our objective, breaking records on the way. People say we are boring. Football has become a tad boring. Scott Parker has been quite simply amazing.

Burnley midfielder Josh Cullen says winning promotion to the Premier League is an "absolutely amazing" feeling and a day he will "never forget".

The 29-year-old has only missed two Championship games this season, making 42 appearances at the heart of the Clarets' midfield, including in the 2-1 win over Sheffield United on Monday to secure a return to the top flight.

"To do it with such a special group of people, not only the lads and the team-mates but the staff and everyone around the club, [I'm] just over the moon," Cullen told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"We always had that belief and I think, although we've played it down all season, when you looked at the fixture schedule, you thought this game could be a massive one.

"Obviously it turned out to be a defining one for us to get over the line. I think the run we've been on, the belief we have in ourselves, we always believed we can win games and we've got enough to score goals and defend when we have to defend."

Cullen praised the atmosphere at Turf Moor and thanked the fans who have "pushed us on all year".

"They've been magnificent this year and backed us the whole way. Happy to reward them and get the club back where it belongs," he said.

The Ireland international was in the squad when Burnley were relegated from the Premier League in 2023-24 and said it made this promotion "especially" satisfying.

"It's obviously been a lot tighter this year with three - four teams with Sunderland prior - going for the two automatic spots," Cullen added.

"We've had to be right on our game and it's probably a little bit extra this time having experienced the pain of relegation last year.

"We'll enjoy this moment, that's for sure."