“Could Burnley Rewrite History? The Astonishing Quest for a 71-Year-Old Football Record Begins!”

As we approach the thrilling conclusion of the Championship season, the stakes couldn’t be higher. With only a handful of matches left, three teams are in hot pursuit of two coveted automatic promotion spots, each desperate for a chance to taste the financial spoils of the Premier League. Leading the pack are the Blades from Sheffield United, who, under the guidance of Chris Wilder, have recently surged ahead, creating a slender two-point cushion over their fierce rivals, Leeds United. Meanwhile, Burnley, managed by Scott Parker, lurks just behind, separated by mere goal difference as they all scramble to secure their places in the top division. With Sunderland trailing significantly, it’s becoming evident that it will be a jaw-dropping showdown between these three clubs, all eager to evade the anxiety of the playoff drama that looms below. The excitement is palpable, and the outcome could shape the fate of these clubs for years to come. To delve deeper into this captivating race, you can LEARN MORE.

The Championship promotion race is about to hit the home straight, with three teams vying for the two automatic promotion places and the Premier League riches that accompany it.

Sheffield United currently lead the way, with Chris Wilder’s team overtaking Leeds United at the summit this weekend to open up a two-point gap above their Yorkshire rivals. Daniel Farke’s side have Lancashire rivals Burnley hot on their heels, with just goal difference keeping Scott Parker’s men out of the top two.

With Sunderland a further nine points behind the top three, it looks like being two from three, with the trio all desperate to avoid being the odd one out and dropping into the play-offs.

Burnley close on on 71-year record

Like the Blades, Parker’s Burnley side are looking to immediately bounce back to the top flight at the first time of asking and helped their cause with a hard-fought 1-0 win at home to Bristol City at the weekend.

That was the Clarets’ seventh 1-0 victory of the Championship season, and as the season has progressed, it has been clear what the former Fulham and Bournemouth bosses’ promotion blueprint has been.

Parker clearly believes that promotion back to the top flight can be achieved primarily through a water-tight defence, with his side having conceded just 11 goals in their 39 Championship games so far this term.

This has led to Burney registering 28 clean sheets so far, which has put them within striking distance of the record for the most clean sheets in a season in English football history.

Saturday’s latest blank leaves Burnley third in the all-time standings, with just Gillingham (29 clean sheets in 1995/95) and current record holders Port Vale ahead of them.

The Valiants managed 30 clean sheets in 1953/54, a record that has stood for 71 years, but is now under threat. Burnley have seven Championship games of the season remaining and would need two clean sheets to equal the record and three to break it.

Their remaining schedule sees them take on Coventry City (a), Derby County (h), Norwich City (h), Watford (a), Sheffield United (h), QPR (a) and Millwall (h).

Earlier this season Burnley became the first team in the history of the second tier to clock up 10 consecutive clean sheets, when they went 1,214 minutes without conceding on their way to 12 shutouts in a row – two short of Manchester United’s all-time English record of 14 consecutive cleansheets.