Burnley held off late pressure from Norwich City to secure a vital 2-1 victory at Turf Moor, moving back to the top of the Championship and boosting their hopes of automatic promotion.
Scott Parker’s side extended their unbeaten league run to an impressive 29 matches, leaping three points ahead of Leeds and five clear of third-placed Sheffield United.
The Clarets appeared on course for a comfortable win after a dominant first half, which saw goals from Hannibal and Jaidon Anthony.
Hannibal broke through Norwich’s defense in the 14th minute with a delightful finish following Josh Cullen’s chipped pass, while Anthony capitalized on a mistake from a poor Norwich free-kick to double Burnley’s lead via a deflected shot off Shane Duffy.
Norwich fought back in the second half and reduced the deficit through Jack Stacey’s close-range strike from a corner, setting up a tense final 15 minutes. However, Burnley stood firm, maintaining their incredible defensive record of just 13 goals conceded in 42 games this season.
Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford narrowly missed the opportunity to equal the record of 29 clean sheets in an English Football League season, held by Ray King (1953-54) and Jim Stannard (1995-96). Nevertheless, the Clarets remain on track to challenge the all-time league records for defensive solidity.
Despite the win, manager Scott Parker emphasized the need for focus during the season’s crucial final stretch. “This is about staying very level, very focused, not getting involved in the emotions of this time of year,” he told BBC Radio Lancashire.
For Norwich, the loss virtually ends their chances of a play-off spot, as they sit nine points adrift of the top six with just four games remaining. Manager Johannes Hoff Thorup lamented his side’s defensive lapses, saying, “The first goal, it’s not good enough defensively…The second goal came from a poor free-kick on our part. That left us in a bad position.”
Burnley’s remaining fixtures include trips to Watford and QPR, as well as home matches against Sheffield United and Millwall, with automatic promotion within their grasp.
