Burnley Go Close After Record Breaking Campaign

06/05/2025 12:59 Share

Burnley Go Close After Record Breaking Campaign

Burnley came within minutes of ending the EFL Championship season as title winners after a dramatic conclusion to the 2024/25 campaign that saw Scott Parker’s side secure a place in English football history.

Heading into the final month of the season, the Vertu-backed side were embroiled in a three-way battle for the title with Sheffield United and Leeds United, sitting third in the standings but only two points off top spot.

The run-in kicked off with a tricky trip to play-off chasing Coventry City, who took the lead early on through Haji Wright before a double from Jaidon Anthony secured all three points and moved the Clarets to the top after their two rivals both failed to win.

A goalless draw away at Derby County allowed Leeds to move back ahead in the title race, but the return to Turf Moor a few days later resulted in a hard-fought three points as Hannibal and Anthony both netted to see off the Norwich City.

Another 2-1 win away at Watford in a game that saw the home side have two players sent off kept the pressure on at the top going into a home match against Sheffield United – where victory would be enough to seal promotion.

A double from Josh Brownhill in the first half was enough to see off the Blades and secure an immediate return to the Premier League, with the final two games then deciding who would go up as champions.

With Leeds ahead on goal difference, Burnley realistically knew that they would need to score more points than their rivals across the final two fixtures in order to take top honours.

Playing their penultimate fixture first, Burnley kept the pressure on and returned to the top with a five star win on the road at Queens Park Rangers, with Josh Cullen and a double from Zian Flemming earning a 3-0 lead before half-time.

Jeremy Sarmiento then came off the bench in the second half to bag a double that extended Burnley’s unbeaten run to 32 games going into the final match against Millwall.

Leeds went back to the top by beating Bristol City, meaning the battle for the title went down to the final round of fixtures.

After an early scare when Millwall took the lead at Turf Moor, Burnley were on course to go up as champions with Leeds being held at Plymouth Argyle and goals from Brownhill and Anthony putting the Clarets in front.

Heading into the final seconds of the season, Burnley remained on top of the table but a dramatic 91^st minute winner for Leeds earned them the title on goal difference – with both sides ending the campaign on 100 points.

Burnley’s promotion came on the back of a stunning season defensively, with just 16 goals conceded in 46 games at an average of 0.35 goals per game.

That beat the previous English league record of 0.38 goals per game set by Liverpool during the 1978/79 season and was four goals less than Gillingham conceded in a 46 game season back in 1995/96.

Burnley were unable to match the total of 15 goals conceded by Chelsea in 2004/05, although that was during a 38 game season in the Premier League.

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