Sean Dyche’s Burnley are enjoying life back in the Premier League.
After finishing top of the Championship at the end of the 2015/2016 season, Sean Dyche’s Burnley are back in the Premier League. Following a rampant promotion campaign, Burnley have brought their defensive, counter-attacking football to some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs, and are fighting hard to stake their claim as a stable top division side.
Burnley’s Sam Vokes celebrates with the trophy after winning the Sky Bet Football League
At the beginning of 2016, Burnley were by no means running away with the Championship. Climbing from 5th to 1st over the course of January to February, Burnley seemed to have finally found their form at the turn of the year, highlighted by their impressive 4-1 win over Derby County on the 25th of January.
Derby’s Stephen Warnock and Burnley’s George Boyd
Burnley would then go on to spend the rest of March at the top of the table, cementing their place as favourites for the title, as well as enjoying a well deserved victory in the hotly contested East Lancashire Derby, beating Blackburn Rovers 1-0 thanks to a goal from Andre Gray.
Burnley’s Andre Gray celebrates
Going into the final two months of the season, Burnley would face tough opposition from promotion rivals Middlesbrough for the top spot, but after a 1-1 home draw with the Boro, Burnley would go on to win their last three Championship games to seal the title.
Burnley’s Michael Keane and Ben Mee celebrate promotion to the premier league
After being criticised by many pundits for not spending big during their last stint in the Premier League, Burnley were quick not to make the same mistakes again this time around, and quickly moved to bring in two expensive midfielder signings in the form of Steven Defour and Derby County’s Jeff Hendrick, the latter becoming Burnley’s record signing.
Burnley’s Jeff Hendrick in action for his new club
Getting their Premier League campaign started, Burnley suffered a 0-1 defeat to Swansea City on the opening day. Despite losing again at the end of the month in a 3-0 defeat to Antionio Conte’s Chelsea, Burnley did enjoy a 2-0 win against high-flying Liverpool, thanks to goals from Sam Vokes and Andre Gray.
Burnley’s Sam Vokes celebrates scoring their first goal against Liverpool
September would prove to be a month of mixed results for Burnley. After a 1-1 draw with newly promoted Hull City, Burnley suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Premier League champions, Leicester City. However, the Clarets would end the month with a 2-0 win over Watford, thanks goals from new signing Hendrick and star defender Micheal Keane.
Burnley’s Jeff Hendrick celebrates scoring their first goal against Watford
Despite a poor start to the month of October, after a 0-1 defeat to Arsenal and a 3-1 defeat to Southampton, Burnley picked up their third win of the season at Ronald Koeman’s Everton, winning 2-1 thanks to goals from Vokes and Arfield.
Burnley’s Sam Vokes scores their first goal
Burnley offered a much stronger start to the month of November, after a 3-2 win over Alan Pardew’s Crystal Palace. Unfortunately, this was followed by Burnley’s poorest performance of the season, after the Clarets lost 4-0 away at West Bromwich Albion. The bounced back against Manchester City in a stirring performance at the end of the month however, and were unlucky to lose the game 1-2 after an early goal from Dean Marney.
Burnley’s Jeff Hendrick and Dean Marney look dejected
Again, December has proved to be a month of mixed results for Burnley, as the Clarets struggle with consistency. However, after an impressive 3-2 win over Bournemouth, Burnley are showing that they certainly have what it takes to outscore their opponents, despite their focus on a defensive style of football; a trait that will hold them in good stead as they try to stay in the Premier League in 2017.
Burnley’s George Boyd celebrates scoring their third goal against Bournemouth
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