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Burnley’s Unyielding Defense: A League Record in Sight

Since Burnley last allowed a goal in the league, significant changes have unfolded across football and beyond. Eight clubs in the Championship have seen coaching changes, Manchester United has let in 18 goals in the Premier League, and the United States welcomed a new president.

Remarkably, the Clarets have maintained an unbroken defensive record in the Championship since the 80th minute of a 2-1 victory against Watford on December 21. Their recent 4-0 triumph over Sheffield Wednesday marked the club’s 12th consecutive clean sheet, reinforcing their position in the promotion battle as they sit third in the league table.

In the long history of the Football League, which dates back to 1888, only one club has managed to keep a longer streak of league matches without conceding a goal across the top four divisions. That distinction belongs to Manchester United, who achieved a record of 14 consecutive clean sheets during the 2008-09 season.

This historic record is now within reach for Scott Parker’s squad, who remain unbeaten in their last 21 league matches, with 12 wins and nine draws. This streak matches their longest run since an impressive 22-match undefeated stretch from November 2022 to April 2023.

Throughout the current season, the Clarets have conceded just nine goals across 34 league matches. Goalkeeper James Trafford has been integral to this success, achieving a remarkable 24 clean sheets, tying the Championship record held by John Ruddy of Wolves and Paddy Kenny of QPR. Impressively, they have not conceded a single goal in any competition since their FA Cup clash, where they defeated Reading 3-1 on January 11.

This defensive turnaround is striking, especially when compared to last season, where Burnley faced heavy criticism for their leaky defense, allowing 78 goals while in the Premier League.

For managers within the Championship eyeing an opportunity to break Burnley’s defensive dominance, statistics from Opta offer insights into their vulnerabilities. Out of the nine goals conceded this season, six have resulted from open play, while only two have come from crosses. Additionally, they appear to be more susceptible to conceding in the first half, with six of those nine goals allowed prior to halftime.

BBC Sport has documented these remarkable events, illustrating the dramatic shifts in the football landscape since Burnley last faced the ignominy of conceding a league goal.

Source
www.bbc.com