Burnley

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Burnley have conceded just nine goals in the Championship season and have now kept nine clean sheets in a row.

Scott Parker's side are 11th when it comes to goals scored but are second in the table as it stands, occupying an automatic promotion spot.

Clarets fans, we want your views on your remarkable defensive record and the season so far:

What has it been like to watch Burnley this season?

Are you happy with the style of play?

Is the defensive record something you are proud of?

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Burnley manager Scott Parker says Marcus Edwards has matured since the days when he was criticised by his former Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino for having "behavioural and authority problems".

The 26-year-old has signed on loan for the Clarets from Sporting Lisbon for the rest of the season and was on the bench for Tuesday's win over Oxford United.

Edwards was likened to Lionel Messi by Pochettino but moved to Portugal with Vitoria Guimaraes and then Sporting when his career in North London stalled.

Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire: "I've been around Marcus for some time. [When he was] a young boy of 13 years of age was the first time I was introduced to him, when I was doing my coaching badges. He's a special player with special talent.

"We need to take care of him, as he's not played a lot of football - the last time he played was November, December, so he needs a bit more training time.

"He's definitely matured, and also probably the understanding of Marcus as well (has improved). He's gone off to Portugal on his own, and there is maturity there.

"He was a young boy in and around London and when you're a young boy sometimes there's a difference in the way you are, but he's matured and there's no denying he's a special talent."

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Burnley head coach Scott Parker spoke to BBC Radio Lancashire after his side returned to the automatic promotion places by beating Oxford.

"The first 45 minutes I thought we were nothing short of superb. We really dominated the game and we were everything we weren't at the weekend throughout," he said.

"We created a lot of chances and showed real quality.

"It's fair to say that going in at half-time 1-0 up was a little unjust because it could have been more. We missed some big chances.

"Overall I was delighted with the team, our general endeavour and the way we went about it tonight.

"Over the last few weeks we've been a little bit too desperate and tried to force things when really it wasn't open, and tonight I thought we showed a real balance - where to use passes to try and create bigger spaces, hence the chances we created.

"It comes from patience and manipulation of the opposition that opens up massive chances for us so I was really pleased with that."

Burnley could close the gap on Championship leaders Leeds to just two points if they can end their run of stalemates at Turf Moor when Oxford United visit on Tuesday night (19:45 GMT).

Burnley have scored the fewest number of goals of any team in the top six with 36 in 30 games, though the Clarets have by far the best defensive record across the entire top four divisions, conceding just nine league goals all season.

The Us could climb as high as 14th and put 13 points between themselves and the drop-zone if they can cause an upset in east Lancashire.

• Burnley have lost just two of their past 14 league games against Oxford United (W5 D7), winning their last such home match against the U's 3-2 in December 1999.

• Oxford United have won just one of their seven away league games against Burnley (D4 L2), a 2-0 victory at Turf Moor in January 1996.

• Each of Burnley's past three Championship home games have all finished 0-0. The only second tier side in English league history to have four successive home matches end goalless were Wolves in March/April 2016.

• Oxford United are unbeaten in four away league games (W1 D3), last going longer without defeat on the road in December 2022 (7 games).

• Oxford United's Gary Rowett has won none of his four Championship games against Burnley as a manager (D2 L2); only against Bournemouth (5) has he taken charge of more matches in the division without ever winning.

Image source, Rex Features

Getting back to the Premier League is more of a priority than being exciting to watch according to the majority of Burnley supporters.

Third-placed Burnley have conceded only nine goals in their 30 Championship matches this season, keeping 21 clean sheets.

"I do feel we're prioritising being strong at the back to going forward but overall the fanbase is happy although there are murmurings about the style and things like that," Joe Redmond from the Burnley podcast Turfcast told the BBC's Monday Night Club.

"But it's about getting back there and if we're on the way to the Premier League it'll all be forgotten about."

At this stage of the season Burnley have conceded the fewest goals per game in EFL history with goalkeeper James Trafford keeping eight clean sheets in a row after a difficult time in the Premier League last season.

But despite their excellent defensive Burnley have only scored 36 goals in the league which, after Blackburn (34) makes them the lowest scorers in the Championship's top half.

"We're not exciting to watch but the record is brilliant especially James Trafford who has grown in confidence from last season where I felt it was too high too soon for him and not necessarily his fault," Redmond added.

"Esteve and Egan-Riley are a great defensive partnership and then you've got Connor Roberts and Bashir Humphreys as well but we're not great going forward though and that's the problem."

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Championship promotion hopefuls Burnley have claimed a significant coup with the loan signing of former England youth international Marcus Edwards from Sporting.

The 26-year-old was linked in the past to top six teams in the Premier League, but it seems like his stock has fallen recently, not playing for the Portuguese side since November.

Club insiders have said the appeal of working under ex-Tottenham coach Scott Parker was the major contributing factor in Edwards joining the Turf Moor outfit.

Having also brought in Jonjo Shelvey, Ashley Barnes and Oliver Sonne during the transfer window, Edwards might well be the final arrival this winter.

In terms of outgoings, defender John Egan looks like he may be heading to Hull and other outgoings are not currently anticipated, although a big bid for one of the squad could change that.

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Northern Ireland internationals Danielle Maxwell and Louise McDaniel have left Women's Premiership champions Cliftonville to join Burnley.

Both players played a key role Cliftonville's two title winning seasons in 2022 and 2024.

Maxwell managed 11 league goals and McDaniel netted the opener in the 5-0 Irish Cup final win against Lisburn Rangers as the Reds won a domestic treble last season and enjoyed an 'invincible' Women's Premiership campaign.

Winger Maxwell, who previously had a short stint at Blackburn Rovers, won the Women's Premiership Player of the Year award in 2023 and 2024

The 22-year-old has won 16 caps for Northern Ireland, scoring two goals.

McDaniel joined John McGrady's side in 2021 after spells with Linfield, Hearts and Blackburn Rovers.

The centre midfielder was part of Northern Ireland's Euro 2022 squad and has won 17 caps, becoming first Northern Ireland women's player to score at Windsor Park, when she netted in a 4-0 victory over Latvia in 2021.

The two players will link up with international teammate Brenna McPartlan at the Clarets, who sit third in Women's Premier Division.

"It's a very competitive league and it's a big step for me, but from what I've seen of the club it's very professional," Maxwell told the club's website.

"I'm here to help with goals and assists but ultimately, the most important thing is that the team keeps getting results.

"It's an exciting time at the club with some clear goals in mind and they align with my own ambitions, so I thought it was a really good fit," McDaniel added.

"I spoke to Brenna and she told me everything about the club. Having been here for a few days now it has surpassed my expectations."

Image source, Rex Features

Burnley boss Scott Parker said his side were below par in their 0-0 draw away against Portsmouth.

Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire: "It's a difficult place to come as you can see from their results over the past few weeks.

"They are a different animal at home, an aggressive team who put you under pressure constantly with a real intent and we had to stand up to that.

"That's the one positive because this game could have looked a lot different if we didn't have that resilience about us.

"On the flip side, we weren't at our best. We lacked a little something.

"We knew what was coming and the way they play causes you problems. We couldn't really gain any control and that's down to them. They put us under a lot of pressure but it's a good point."

Burnley boss Scott Parker says his side's defensive strength is "remarkable" amid claims they lack entertainment value.

The criticism has been heightened after the Clarets' highly-anticipated match against fellow title-chasers Leeds United ended in a goalless draw with the second lowest XG of the season.

Burnley have scored the least amount goals of any team in the top six with 36, while league leaders Leeds have the most with 55.

The Clarets have by far the best defensive record across the entire top four divisions, conceding just nine goals in 29 matches.

"It was only a week ago we scored five goals against Plymouth. We didn't score against Leeds and quickly the narrative swings that we're a really boring team," Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"But that was the game, it wasn't a classic.

"What we did manage to do was incredible on the defensive side of things but what we didn't manage to execute was us trying to be a bit of a threat, but we keep working on that."

Tottenham will allow 19-year-old forward Will Lankshear to leave on loan before Monday's transfer deadline, with Burnley, Middlesbrough, West Brom, Cardiff and Luton keen on the England Under-20 international. (Football.London), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column.

Portsmouth have lost their past two games and saw their seven-game unbeaten run at Fratton Park ended by Millwall on Tuesday night.

Pompey welcome promotion-chasing Burnley on Saturday afternoon, who are one point off the top two and unbeaten in their past 16 games (W9 D7).

• After remaining unbeaten across their ten league games against Burnley between 1995 and 2010, Portsmouth have since won just one of their past five against the Clarets (D1 L3).

• Burnley have won their past two away league games against Portsmouth and will be looking to win three in succession at Fratton Park for the first time.

• Portsmouth have won each of their past four home league matches and will be looking to win five in a row in the second tier for the first time since February/March 2003 (5).

• Burnley are unbeaten across their past eight away league games (W6 D2), keeping seven clean sheets in the process. The Clarets last enjoyed a longer undefeated run on the road between December 2022 and September 2023 (14 games) during which they were promoted to the Premier League.

• Josh Brownhill has netted nine goals for Burnley in the Championship this season, already his most in a single league campaign in English football. Indeed, his five away goals are also his most in a league season to date.

Burnley are keen on 22-year-old NEC Nijmegen winger Sontje Hansen for a fee of around £3.5m. (Sky Sports), external

Middlesbrough's move for former Leeds midfielder Glen Kamara could be off, with the Finland international, who has also been linked with Sunderland and Burnley, now reportedly ready to move to Saudi side Al Shabab. (Northern Echo, external)

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

Image source, Rex Features

Burnley's stunning defensive record this season is a credit to the whole team, says defender Maxime Esteve.

The Clarets have only conceded nine goals in their 29 Championship games and kept 20 clean sheets.

"We worked during pre-season defensively and you see the recovery runs of everyone - the winger, the striker, the midfielder, everyone works on the same thing," Esteve told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"The attitude of everyone is amazing, it's team work."

Burnley held the leaders Leeds to a goalless draw on Monday and are in third place in the Championship table, one point outside the automatic promotion places.

The Clarets visit struggling Portsmouth on Saturday.

"There is the backline when you talk about it defensively but when you see the game, all the players work on the same side," added Esteve.

"If you come back with three points from Portsmouth it's a good point against Leeds so we have to switch on."