Burnley

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Burnley boss Scott Parker hailed his side's "rock solid" display as they extended their amazing unbeaten run with victory over Luton Town.

The Clarets boosted their goal tally with a 4-0 win after the visitors lost defender Kal Naismith, who was sent off with the game less than 20 minutes old.

They remain third but have a superior goal difference to Sheffield United, who are second and are just two points behind the Blades and leaders Leeds.

"Our performance was rock solid, showed our quality. Of course they got a man sent off pretty early in the game but sometimes that can prove pretty difficult (to play against)," Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"They're a difficult side. I know where they are in the division but they're fighting for their lives and we never gave them any oxygen today.

"We managed every scenario, nullified anything they could produce, defensively as a unit we were very good and in our moments (in attack), we were deadly and executed really well.

"They came here with a back five. Earlier on in the season playing against a stubborn team, we didn't move the ball or create the angles, our movement wasn't as precise as we'd like, but that was very different today."

Burnley are at home to West Brom on Tuesday, when they will look to further extend their unbeaten record this season at Turf Moor.

Dan Jewell
BBC Radio Lancashire sport

Burnley's Ashley Barnes wants to reward supporters and staff for the way they have welcomed him back to the club with another promotion to the Premier League.

The striker returned for a second spell in the January transfer window after a previous stint of nine years which saw him win two Championship titles and finish second once.

The Clarets are currently third in the second tier, two points behind second-placed Sheffield United.

Barnes has seen starting chances limited since his free transfer from Norwich but has come off the bench four times so far in the league.

"It's a special place to me and my family," said the 35-year-old.

"The pure passion of football that they live and die for; it's just amazing. I love that you go to the ground and it's not very nice. That's how we make it feel for other teams. You make it a fortress.

"I love everything about the club and always have done. I think it's just the love that everyone shows for each other.

"That's what this town has. Over the years you see so many players come and go but players do need to realise the fans are everything to a club.

"To be honest I never thought I would be back. Maybe one day in the future in a different kind of role but as a player, no, never.

"I would always dream it, of course, but I didn't think it could ever be possible.

"To do it again (and win promotion) would be phenomenal. It would be extra special because you know that it might be the last.

"That's something that I really hope that I can do and help the lads get over the line."

"I think, in a weird kind of way, it will be a little bit of a relief to everybody there.

"They're still going to be defensively very solid but it's almost like that is the main thing going into a game - not to concede.

"I think there was a time where that superseded the will to go and win a game of football."

Former Reading winger Jobi McAnuff gives his thoughts on Burnley finally letting a goal in to Aaron Paul on this week's 72+: The EFL Podcast.

The pair are joined by West Bromwich Albion winger Jed Wallace to discuss, among other things, the end of the Clarets' record of 12 successive clean sheets and how it could help the Clarets open up to a more attacking mindset.

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

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Over 20 clean sheets and only 10 goals conceded.

James Trafford has got international experience at under-21 level, won the Euros, saved a penalty and was remarkable in the final.

I think that experience he already has is key. People might question the level he is at now but I would argue the Championship is not an easy league. It's really competitive and has different challenges to the Premier League.

In terms of playing style, every team in the Premier League generally plays quite similarly but in the Championship you have teams who are bit more direct and there are different challenges posed every week.

To keep that many clean sheets is incredible, if any goalkeeper does that in a season they would be spoken about as maybe international calibre.

If you're looking at someone who can play with their feet and maybe challenge Jordan Pickford I think he could be the one.

We know with the way Thomas Tuchel plays; he wants a goalkeeper who can do both - be a commanding shot-stopper who can also play with his feet.

Trafford could be an exciting one we can look for in terms of a goalkeeper challenge.

I think he would be full of confidence and has that international experience.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nat Hayward

Streaks came to their conclusion for Burnley and Luton Town over the past week.

The Clarets were unable to find a 13th successive clean sheet after conceding to Cardiff City on Tuesday.

While Hatter boss Matt Bloomfield found his first win with the club since his appointment in January, defeating fellow relegation battlers Portsmouth 1-0 at the weekend.

But will it be business as usual when the two sides face off at Turf Moor on Saturday (15:00 GMT)?

• Burnley are unbeaten across their last nine league games against Luton Town (W5 D4), winning the reverse fixture at Kenilworth Road 4-1 in August last year.

• Luton Town are unbeaten across their last eight league visits to Turf Moor to face Burnley (W3 D5), since a 2-1 defeat in March 1995.

• Burnley have kept six consecutive league clean sheets at Turf Moor. The Clarets last had a longer run without conceding between November 1946 and February 1947 (eight).

• Luton Town have lost 20 of their last 23 away league matches (W1 D2), including 13 of their last 14 on the road. The Hatters have lost the most away games in the Championship this season (14).

• Jaidon Anthony has three assists in his last two Championship appearances at Turf Moor for Burnley. He has only ended on the losing side in one of his 35 home starts in the Championship for Bournemouth, Leeds and the Clarets, the lowest percentage of defeats for any player who has started more than 20 home games in Championship history since 2004-05 (3%).

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Burnley boss Scott Parker says he was "surprised" that his team conceded against Cardiff City on Tuesday to end their impressive clean sheet record at 12 league games.

Yousef Salech headed the ball into the net for the Bluebirds to make it 2-1 and see the Clarets concede for the first time in the Championship since December.

The Lancashire side did, however, go on to claim victory after Cardiff failed to find an equaliser and see themselves within two points of the automatic promotion spots.

"I am pleased with the three points. We started superbly for 35 minutes, dominated and got our noses in front," Parker told BBC Sport.

"We started the second half brightly but my only complaint is we probably should have put more daylight between us.

"At the end you need resilience and the ability to dig in and we had that. I thought the energy was impressive. We looked like a proper team who understood their roles.

"It's a shame we conceded tonight but I'm more pleased that we won. I was a little bit surprised we conceded, we will have to review it."

Burnley return to the bread-and-butter of the Championship promotion race after their FA Cup exploits as they head to Cardiff on Tuesday (19:45 GMT).

The Clarets will seek to extend their record-breaking defensive record as they play their game in hand on second-placed Sheffield United, who are five points ahead in the second automatic promotion place.

The Bluebirds are five points ahead of third-bottom Luton, in the final relegation place, having also played a game fewer.

• Cardiff City have lost four of their past five league games against Burnley (D1), as many defeats as across their prior 23 meetings with the Clarets combined (W8 D11).

• Burnley are unbeaten across their past eight league games against Cardiff City (W4 D4), since a 4-0 defeat in October 2012.

• Cardiff City are unbeaten in each of their past six home league games (W3 D3), last going longer without defeat at the Cardiff City Stadium in February 2020 under Neil Harris (run of 8).

• Burnley have kept a clean sheet in each of their past 12 Championship games, with only Manchester United between November 2008 and February 2009 ever keeping more straight shutouts in English Football League history (14).

• Cardiff City have lost each of their five league matches against the Championship's current top four sides this season by an aggregate score of 18-0, losing their most recent 7-0 to leaders Leeds United at Elland Road.

Image source, Rex Features

Disappointed Scott Parker has defended making nine changes for Burnley's FA Cup defeat at Preston.

The Clarets went down 3-0 at Lancashire rivals Preston North End to miss out on a potential quarter-final tie at home to Aston Villa.

Parker's side are third in the Championship, five points adrift of Sheffield United in the second automatic promotion place, and play their game in hand at Cardiff on Tuesday night.

Goalkeeper James Trafford, defender CJ Egan-Riley and forward Zian Flemming were among the first-teamers to be rested at Deepdale, but Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire: "It wasn't a difficult decision.

"If you win the tie, like we did at Southampton (in round four), it gets wiped away. This squad are together, they deserve to play in this game.

"We have got a quick turnaround for another big game at Cardiff, we travel on Monday. I need to manage the squad.

"We wanted to go through to the next round, we've not managed to do that."

Burnley conceded more goals in one game than they had in their previous 15 matches in all competitions, ending a run of nine consecutive clean sheets.

"It's disappointing," Parker added. "We fell short in a tough tie, there's no denying that.

"We fell short in the basics, in the foundation of this game and what was needed we came up a little bit short, we were second best to a lot of things really.

"I think it's fair to say it was a mixture of them playing well and us being a bit below par. For the majority of this year we have built our game on a foundation of the basics and we didn't manage to do that. It was a difficult day for us."

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Burnley forward Jaidon Anthony said the team's hard work to improve their attacking game is beginning to pay off.

The Clarets thrashed Sheffield Wednesday 4-0 last Friday, which was only the fourth time they have scored more than twice in a league game this season.

Of the current top six sides in the Championship, only Blackburn (39) have scored fewer than Burnley's 43 goals.

"We've been developing as a group on the training ground on the all-round game, but especially in the attacking phases and patterns of play and what we want to do in the final third," Anthony told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"I think we're getting to see that and hopefully the goals can keep going in."

Burnley's relative struggles in front of goal are in stark contrast to their defensive record this season. They recorded a 12th successive clean sheet against Wednesday, and have conceded only nine goals in 34 league games.

"It's ridiculous - we've got an unbelievable unit, which starts with the back four and the goalkeeper, of course, and then the boys in front do a good job in helping them out," Anthony added.

"It's an unbelievable run, not something anyone can say they expected. We're definitely trying to keep it going, and if we do we've got a good chance this year."

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Burnley boss Scott Parker spoke to BBC Radio Lancashire following their 4-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday.

Parker, who was serving a one-game touchline ban, watched the game from the stand at Turf Moor.

"First half we started pretty slowly and lacked a bit of energy but the goal came at a great time for us," he said.

"We were clinical, it's another clean sheet, four goals and overall I'm very pleased.

"There were times when pressure was coming and this side prides itself on keeping clean sheets and tonight again we were resolute and stood up when we had to."