BURNLEY 1
Flemming 16
BRISTOL CITY 0
Scott Parker is relishing being in the thick of a prize fight for places in the Premier League after Zian Flemming’s superb first-half free-kick against Bristol City secured yet another win for his Burnley side.
Victory made it 26 games unbeaten, dating back to early November, and included a remarkable 28th clean sheet in 39 games so far this season.
To cap a potentially pivotal day in the promotion race, there was also a huge cheer from home fans after the final whistle at Turf Moor as news came through of Swansea City’s dramatic late equaliser at Leeds United.
Yet, incredibly, Burnley are still just outside the top two automatic promotion places on goal difference, even if, with Sheffield United due at Turf Moor next month, Parker’s team has its fate in its own hands.
Knockout punch
“I’ve never known a race like it, the two promotions I’ve had were a little bit different,” said Parker who lifted Fulham and Bournemouth out of the Championship.
“There are three teams, toe-to-toe, jabbing away at this moment and all three are looking for the knockout punch.
“We have got seven games to produce the right hand that can see us over the line.
“We go and win seven games, we’ll be fine.
“I expect there to be many more twists and turns left in this league, but I don’t really care what the other two teams are doing.”
CLASS: Zian Flemming fires in a free-kick to put Burnley ahead
Match action
The win came from a 16th-minute effort that deserved to settle any promotion battle, after Jason Knight conceded a free-kick for a foul on Marcus Edwards.
Flemming stood over the ball purposefully, 22 yards from goal, before striking an unstoppable right-foot finish into the top left-hand corner of the City goal.
But Burnley’s quest for an all-important second goal proved elusive.
Jaidon Anthony miscontrolled Edwards’ super pass soon after and scuffed a shot straight at Max O’Leary then headed wide from Flemming’s perfect cross.
And rampaging right-back Connor Roberts tried to get in on the act, delivering a thumping shot that drifted just wide of the target.
Bristol boss Liam Manning saw his side reduced to a hopeful shot from the edge of the area from Anis Mehmeti which passed well wide.
The killer blow looked like it might arrive after 52 minutes when Flemming read Mark Sykes’ under-hit header back to his keeper, and full-back Lucas Pires followed up with a lob just over the Bristol goal.
But City kept pushing, trying to ensure a nervy ending for their hosts, although they were unable to produce a shot on target until, literally, the last kick of the game when Yu Hirakawa struck the ball straight at James Trafford.
Positive
Defeat left City outside the play-off places, but only on goal difference, with Manning maintaining a positive outlook on his team’s surprise promotion bid.
“I was frustrated to lose but you want to find out your level,” said Manning.
“It’s around quality, speed of the ball, decision making, and that’s probably the bit we’re a little bit sloppy, compared to what our standards have been recently, so that’s really where the frustration comes from.
“It depends on how the next seven go, we need a bit of luck.
“When you look at it, we’ve got a top group of lads that are going to give absolutely everything.
“I think we have big areas to improve.
“We’re quite clear we’re building on something, so I think there’s so much room for growth, still, in the group.
“Look, we’re in a positive spot.
“There’s a good atmosphere, a good energy about the place, and we have to keep that and bounce into next week, ready to go again.”
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