Burnley

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.

Image source, Rex Features

Burnley defender CJ Egan-Riley has been named the EFL's young player of the month for February.

The 22-year-old was part of the Clarets side which kept six clean sheets last month in their record 12-game run without conceding a goal in the Championship.

"I'm enjoying my football and we've got a goal here to get back to the Premier League," Egan-Riley told BBC Radio Lancashire in a recent interview.

Egan-Riley, who joined Burnley from Manchester City in 2022, has featured in 33 of their 38 league games this season, helping them to third place in the table.

Image source, PA Media

Burnley boss Scott Parker said he was only focused on his own side after they beat Swansea 2-0.

"Overall it was a really professional performance. We started the game really well in terms of our intensity, breaking out of certain areas and then executing with two goals," he said.

"Then we managed the game, a really professional performance, I felt the game was constantly in our hand.

"The most crucial thing [is winning games]. It's 25 unbeaten now. I don't really have any interest in what others are doing. We just need to keep chalking off the wins."

Burnley visit Swansea City on Saturday (15:00 GMT) in a bid to break into the top two.

The Clarets are two points shy of second placed Sheffield United and would find themselves in an automatic promotion spot should they defeat the Swans, with the Blades set for derby day in the Steel City on Sunday.

Defender CJ Egan-Riley is expected to be part of the match day action after his red card during Burnley's draw to West Bromwich Albion was successfully overturned upon appeal.

• Swansea City have lost each of their last three league games against Burnley. The Swans had won seven of their previous nine against the Clarets beforehand.

• Burnley won 2-1 on their last league visit to Swansea in January 2023. The Clarets haven't won consecutive visits to the Swans in their league history.

• Swansea have won their last two home league games, having lost three in a row before this. Both of these wins have been under caretaker Alan Sheehan, with the Irishman winning each of his last four at Liberty Stadium (also two wins in December and January last season in a previous caretaker spell).

• Burnley have conceded just six goals in 18 away league games this season, the lowest goals conceded per game (0.33) by a team away from home in a season in Football League history.

• Zian Flemming has been involved in eight goals in his last 12 away Championship appearances for Burnley (six goals, two assists).

Image source, BBC Sport/Getty Images

Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford has been named in Thomas Tuchel's first England squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.

The 22-year-old received his first call-up for international duty in 2024 but has yet to make his debut for the Three Lions' senior team.

England host Albania on Friday 21 March at Wembley, before welcoming Latvia the following Monday, in new boss Tuchel's first games in charge.

Clarets stopper Trafford has kept 25 league clean sheets this season, conceding just 11 goals, and is the only Championship player to feature in the 26-man squad.

Read the full squad list here.

Image source, Getty Images

Burnley defender CJ Egan-Riley's red card in Tuesday's draw with West Brom has been rescinded upon appeal.

Egan-Riley was dismissed at full-time after a foul on Albion forward Will Lankshear after the game had ended, but a Football Association panel reviewed the incident on Thursday and overturned the red card.

Scott Parker was also sent off at the end of the game but told the press at his briefing on Thursday that he was backing Egan-Riley.

"It is a trip, a technical foul," Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"It is a booking. I feel he's been harshly dealt with. It wasn't a brutal action, it was a trip. Players are on the knife edge and while the whistle had gone, I'm not sure CJ knew that."

Burnley travel to Swansea on Saturday for their next Championship match.

"What these little moments can do is bring the group together. It's a little spark point where you just say 'Let's all make sure we are all having each other's back', which certainly looked like that was the case, and creates that siege mentality."

Aaron Paul and former winger Jobi McAnuff break down a tumultuous end to Burnley's 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion that saw both Claret's boss Scott Parker and defender CJ Egan-Riley given red cards.

Could the controversy bring a silver lining?

You can listen to the full episode of 72+ and more on the Football Daily podcast.

Image source, Getty Images

Burnley first-team coach Mike Jackson stood in for Scott Parker for post-match interviews as the Clarets boss was not allowed under league rules after his red card.

Asked about the incident at the end of the 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion which saw referee Gavin Ward also show a red card to defender CJ Egan-Riley - a decision which the club will appeal - Jackson said: "I think there's a lot of emotion.

"I think both teams are going for it, both teams are at different stages of where they need to be.

"The detail of it is not something that I want to try and get involved in because that much has gone on at the end but from what I've seen, I don't think there's a lot in it.

"I think sometimes we just need to take a little bit of a step back, everybody involved, but we'll look at it as a club."

Burnley will look to go to top of the table as they host play-off hopefuls West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday (19:45 GMT).

The Clarets are just two points shy of league leaders Leeds United and have not been beaten at Turf Moor all season.

A win would at least place them in the top two come the end of the day, with second-placed Sheffield United facing Bristol City in the late kick-off.

The Baggies could fall out of the top six should they lose and the Robins prevail at Bramall Lane.

• Burnley are unbeaten across their last six league games against West Bromwich Albion (W2 D4), since a 1-0 defeat in August 2017.

• West Bromwich Albion have won just two of their last 18 away league games against Burnley (D9 L7), winning just one of their last eight games (D4 L3).

• Burnley are unbeaten in each of their last 12 midweek league games (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), winning seven of them (D5), including each of their last four.

• West Brom are winless in their last 10 away league games (D6 L4), their longest run outside the top-flight since February 2000 (11 games).

• Burnley manager Scott Parker has drawn six of his eight previous managerial encounters with West Brom in the top four tiers (W1 L1), with his only victory coming with Fulham in the Premier League in November 2020 (2-0).

Image source, Getty Images

Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill says getting promoted to the Premier League is the aim for this season, not playing entertaining football.

The Clarets won 4-0 against Luton to maintain their promotion push, but they have made headlines for their strong defence, conceding just 10 goals in the league all season.

Brownhill says winning is their main focus, regardless of how it happens.

"We just worry about what we do on the pitch, no matter how we play, winning is the main thing," he told BBC Radio Lancashire, external.

"Our goal is our goal. We want to be out of this league; if we look back at the end of the season and we are promoted, it doesn't matter how you win."

Third-placed Burnley host West Brom in sixth at Turf Moor on Tuesday and Brownhill expects a tough evening.

"It will be a difficult game," he added. "They are in good form and a good position in the table, so are we. If we are on it the way we've been all season, hopefully we get the three points.

"I'm sure we'll have a good game plan. It can [be a really special night]."