Josh Brownhill ecstatic on Burnley’s return to the Premier League and tips hat to his side’s phenomenal defensive record.
Josh Brownhill joked that Burnley has “bored our way to the Premier League” following their resounding 2-1 victory over Sheffield United on Monday night.
Brownhill was referring to the Clarets’ record of only 15 goals allowed this season, which beat the 30 goals allowed by Watford in 2020–21 and Preston in 2005–06, making them the finest defence in Championship history.
Additionally, they have maintained 29 clean sheets, surpassing Wigan Athletic’s League One EFL record of 27 in 2017–18.
Scott Parker’s team has primarily relied on exceptional defensive stability and consistency, as evidenced by their 12 goalless draws and 15 of their 26 victories by a one-goal margin.
However, if Burnley wins their next two games against QPR and Millwall, they would have reached 100 points and will have tied Reading’s record 33-game unbeaten streak in the second division, which was set in 2005–06.
As he has done for the majority of this season, top scorer Brownhill set the standard at Turf Moor against the Blades, scoring two goals to lead his team to victory and guarantee Burnley’s spot in the Premier League for the 2025–26 season.
“I’m speechless. All that hard work this season,” the 29-year-old told Sky Sports.
“We’ve been written off so many times, people calling us boring. We’ve bored our way to the Premier League.
“It takes a whole team – it’s not just a back four, a goalkeeper, it takes everybody.
“I don’t think a lot of the lads will sleep. I’m so buzzing for the lads that haven’t played Premier League football.”
Head coach Parker said the “ambition and target at the start of the season was to get back to the Premier League”.
“We’ve managed to do that so I’m hugely proud of the squad,” he told BBC Radio Lancashire.
“It’s come down to real, pure commitment from every one of the players, their dedication and the sacrifice that they’ve made, that leads us to this point.
“I explained to the lads there is emotion from me because I see the commitment that everyone has brought.
“We live in a world where you win or you lose and you get judged and at the end of the season you’re either promoted or not and that’s how quickly people will judge it.
“I’m just delighted that all that work, all that effort, all that sacrifice has been worth it and people can see it. The facts are if you don’t get promoted people can see it.”