Burnley

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Burnley manager Scott Parker says his players must "stay level and focused" if they are to achieve automatic promotion to the Premier League.

The Clarets significantly boosted their chances of making the top two with a 2-1 win over Norwich at Turf Moor on Friday.

"Overall, I am delighted with the group," Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire. "We set about it first half, and had an incredible first half. Every phase of our game, from the attacking front, looked a real threat.

"Defensively, in terms of our positioning, meant we really suffocated Norwich. In the second half we dropped our energy, mostly due to the business of the schedule.

"Once a goal goes in, it becomes a nervy time. But we are disappointed about the goal, we've been superb defensively, but I thought our reaction, and the stadium's reaction, was really positive."

Parker's side went top of the table after the victory, five points clear of third placed Sheffield United. Leeds' superior goal difference will mean they leapfrog Burnley with victory this weekend.

"This is about staying very level, very focused, not getting involved in the emotions of this time of year," he added.

"My message is to stay calm, there's four games left, let's keep chalking them off."

Burnley can steal a march on their promotion rivals with a point at home to Norwich enough to send them top of the Championship table ahead of the weekend games.

Norwich know only a win would keep alive their slim chances of gatecrashing the top six.

• Burnley have won their past three league games against Norwich City, last winning four in succession against the Canaries between 2006 and 2007.

• Norwich City have won just one of their 20 away league games against Burnley (D4 L15), failing to score in 14 of those matches at Turf Moor.

• Burnley have kept 29 clean sheets in their 41 Championship games this season. They are now just one clean sheet away from matching the all-time seasonal Football League record of 30, set by Port Vale in the 1953-54 third division north.

• Since defeating Derby 3-2 in September, Norwich have won just two of their past 16 away league games (D6 L8) – 1-0 victories against Luton and Watford.

• Burnley have been involved in 12 goalless draws in the Championship this season; only Blackpool in 1974-75 (13) have ever had more 0-0s in a single Football League season.

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Burnley are not ruling out Lyle Foster for the Championship run-in despite the striker suffering a shoulder injury in Tuesday's goalless draw at Derby.

The 24-year-old had only been on the field as a substitute for six minutes of the second half at Pride Park when he had to go off and be replaced by Hannibal Mejbri.

"It's not looking too good for Lyle," Clarets boss Scott Parker told a news conference before Friday's Championship match with Norwich City (20:00 BST)

"We are looking for a second opinion, thankfully it's not as bad as we feared. He hasn't dislocated it but there is still hope that he could play again this season."

Foster has scored two league goals in 17 starts this season having cost the Clarets £11m when joining from Belgian club Westerlo in January 2023.

Image source, Rex Features

Burnley boss Scott Parker said Derby County's direct style posed major problems and was delighted with the way his side coped to earn a point at Pride Park.

"It's a tough place to come. It's a team fighting for their lives," Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"They cause you problems with the way they play; they put the ball in areas constantly and get you running back towards your own goal and I thought we coped with that really well.

"We started the game electric and really took a foothold for 35 minutes.

"At the back end of the first half they caused us problems from long throws and set-plays. We had to be resilient in those moments as it becomes a 50-50 game.

"But we defended exceptionally well and overall it's a point gained and another clean sheet."

Image source, Rex Features

Burnley manager Scott Parker has praised the mentality of his players ahead of Tuesday's Championship match at a revitalised Derby County (19:45 BST).

The Clarets' 2-1 win against Coventry on Saturday marked their 27th game unbeaten, and Parker is hoping to further extend the run.

"The [Championship] is highly competitive, you have games coming thick and fast and you need a certain mentality and mindset to go 27 unbeaten.

"It is something to be really proud of, so hopefully we can continue that."

Derby have been in fine form themselves, having won four of their previous five games, and lifted themselves out of the relegation zone.

"They will be a tough opposition obviously with [John Eustace] coming in, and now every team has something they're fighting for whether it's for promotion or against relegation," Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire.

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Derby County saw their four-match win streak come to an end against Swansea and now take on the tough task of hosting new league leaders Burnley on Tuesday (19:45 BST).

The Clarets took top spot following a 2-1 win over play-off contenders Coventry City and have not conceded a league defeat since November.

However, they are only one point above second placed Sheffield United, with Leeds United just two points behind in third, and will need a victory to ensure they stay in an automatic promotion place.

While, the Rams are in desperate need of points themselves. Their latest loss means they are now only kept out of the relegation zone by goal difference.

• Derby County are winless in their last 13 league meetings with Burnley (D4 L9) since a 1-0 victory in January 2007 under Billy Davies.

• Burnley have won four of their last five league visits to Derby (D1), as many as their previous 25 beforehand.

• Derby have won each of their last three home league games but haven't won four in a row in the Championship since February 2021.

• Burnley are unbeaten in their last 16 league games against newly promoted opponents (W10 D6) since a 0-2 defeat to Norwich in the Premier League in April 2022. In the Championship, the Clarets' last defeat to a promoted side was in December 2015 (0-2 v Preston).

• Derby's John Eustace has failed to win all four of his previous Championship games against Burnley as a manager (D2 L2) twice with Birmingham in 2022-23 and two with Blackburn this season.

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Burnley boss Scott Parker has hailed his team's performance in the 2-1 victory at Coventry City on Saturday lunchtime.

The Clarets moved from third place to the top of the Championship table with just six matches left to play by virtue of their win at the CBS Arena in addition to promotion rivals Leeds and Sheffield United dropping points.

"It's a massive result for us," Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"First and foremost we've come to a really tough place, the stadium was bouncing today, so we knew the challenge ahead of us and I thought we were superb today.

"For [the last] 15 minutes, any coach standing here suggesting there is a tactical element, there isn't, it's time to dig deep.

"This division is highly competitive. To be 27 matches unbeaten is something to be really proud of, hopefully we continue that."

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Burnley boss Scott Parker said he has "massive respect" for Coventry City counterpart Frank Lampard as his side prepare to visit the Sky Blues on Saturday (12:30 BST).

Parker and Lampard previously played together at Chelsea in the 2004-05 season, as well as with the England national team.

"Massive respect, not just as a player for Frank. We all know the quality, but just generally what he is, what he's about," Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"He's doing very well now and he's done very well in a short space of time in his career, probably similar to myself.

"Frank's gone in, done an incredible job, and they are in a really good run, really good form."

Both men became managers within two years of their retirements as players [Parker with Fulham in 2019; Lampard with Derby County in 2018], and the Clarets boss said you can get "a clear view" of the players who will follow suit.

Though it is the veterans who make their voices heard in the dressing room who Parker values most as a boss.

"Them experienced guys - them ones that are not just the guys who are experienced and got the t-shirt - but those guys that can voice things, lead, and the players listen, it's infectious," he added.

"Their whole demeanour and their whole communication... is vitally important to me.

"As a coach, it's one voice and you have an understanding with it. There's nothing more powerful than having certain players in there that can help push that message as well."

There's precious points in the promotion race as well as Championship history at stake as Burnley head to Coventry for a lunchtime cracker on Saturday (12:30 BST).

Clarets attacker Zian Flemming stands on the verge of a record as he has not tasted defeat in his past 34 appearances in the second tier, since former club Millwall's defeat against Huddersfield a year ago.

A point or more at the CBS Arena would equal former Claret Glen Little's record of 35 appearances without losing while at Reading in 2005/06.

A win could take Burnley top, depending on how Leeds do at Luton at the same time, with leaders Sheffield United, two points ahead, not in action until later on Saturday afternoon.

A victory for the Sky Blues would open up a five-point lead over the play-off chasing pack, for at least a couple of hours.

• Coventry City are winless in their past six league matches against Burnley (D2 L4) since a 1-0 victory in November 2010 under Aidy Boothroyd.

• Burnley have won nine of their past 13 away league games against Coventry (L4), winning each of their last two in the 2011-12 and 2022-23 seasons.

• Coventry have won their past four home league matches – they haven't won more consecutively on home soil since a run of seven between May and October 2021.

• Burnley have kept 28 Championship clean sheets this season, a record by a side in a second tier season. Only two teams have ever kept more in a league season in Football League history – Port Vale in 1953-54 (30) and Gillingham in 1995-96 (29).

• Zian Flemming has had a hand in a goal in each of his past four Championship appearances for Burnley (2 goals, 2 assists); he's unbeaten in each of his last 34 Championship matches, since featuring for Millwall in a defeat to Huddersfield in April 2024, and could equal the longest unbeaten run in Championship history in this game, with Glen Little holding the record at 35.

Newcastle remain interested in a summer deal for Burnley's 22-year-old English goalkeeper James Trafford. (Sky Sports, external)

Want more transfer news? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip column here.

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Boss Scott Parker said his Burnley side impressed him in their 1-0 home win over Bristol City.

The victory took the Clarets level on points with second-placed Leeds United and back to within two points of Championship leaders Sheffield United, with seven games remaining.

"We were exceptional for 45 minutes. We should go in two or three-nil up," Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire. "But the main thing is we won.

"We missed some big chances, but we created them and looked a real threat and a top team.

"In the second half, we had some big moments but didn't execute them.

"There is always - at 1-0, at the back end of the game - a worry. It's tricky because they have nothing to lose and load the top line with five or six players. The game can become a little bit edgy.

"But overall I am delighted with the way we performed. They are an in-form team and we knew it was going to be a tough test. I am really impressed with the way we performed."

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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."

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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.