Burnley

Natalie Bromley
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

It took until the 36th game of the season, and the sacking of constraint-inducing manager Scott Parker, for Burnley to finally join the Premier League campaign.

Sunday's draw at home to Aston Villa was well-deserved and actually enjoyable to watch. Under the temporary stewardship of caretaker manager Mike Jackson, the team looked more relaxed, carefree and ambitious in their attack.

Notable performances from Zian Flemming again, plus Hannibal Mejbri and Axel Tuanzebe, set the tone for a good afternoon at Turf Moor.

It is a shame Burnley have come to the Premier League party too late with too little, though.

Flemming has had a good season, despite many questioning whether he would be able to make the step up to elite-level football. He has now become the first player to score more than 10 Premier League goals in a season for Burnley since Chris Wood last did it in 2021.

I wonder why that is? Perhaps because of a lack of options for Premier League strikers within budget? Or perhaps because of a lack of creativity across the team generally, coupled with a coach who was more inclined to play defensively?

Without wanting to state the obvious, some serious investment in strikers is now needed at Burnley - both for the Championship and beyond.

Either way, we seem destined to lose Flemming next season, which is a real shame as we have so few players who we can consider 'Burnley players' and who we can build some rapport with as fans.

The stadium was sparse in terms of attendance on Sunday and the mood around the town is flat.

The relationship between Burnley and its community has survived worse than this, and for longer than we have been alive, so it will thrive again - especially if we can repeat the performance we saw against Villa.

Find more from Natalie Bromley at No Nay Never podcast, external

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Burnley and Aston Villa.

Here are some of your comments:

Burnley fans

Dave: If we had played with that kind of spirit and intensity for the last six months we would not be going down. Player against player, virtually EVERY team has been so much better than us, but if you believe and play with that kind of passion, it makes all the difference.

Cunla: A much better performance. We tried to get on the front foot and could easily have won.

Peter: It was definitely the best 90 minutes of the season. Had we played like that more often we would still be in the Premier League for next season. Give Mike Jackson the job now and try and keep most of the squad together but get rid of the deadwood like Lyle Foster!!

John: I really enjoyed this game. First time in a while. I've remembered why I buy a season ticket.

Aston Villa fans

Ian: Players walking around in the first half and what appeared to be a lack of desire isn't good enough. No disrespect to Burnley, who deserved the draw, but Villa were playing a relegated side and could have cemented their Champions League place. It simply isn't good enough. There's no guarantee of winning the Europa League final and they can't rely on teams below them losing. Villa need to adopt a top four or five mentality and achieve things for the fans and the club.

Mark: Yet again a total lack of intensity and continually giving away the ball in our own half, it will cost us if we fail to get Champions League.

Prit: Another complacent performance by Villa against another team in the bottom three. It's important to qualify for European competitions through the league so it is vital Villa turn up for the last two matches. Another tip, try passing the ball to another Aston Villa player.

Claire: Villa never do it the easy way, so we have another tense, nail-biting finish to the season. It's hard to believe the same team could be so different just three days apart. We need to beat Liverpool to be safe.

Pundits Shay Given and Danny Murphy join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• West Ham 0-1 Arsenal

• Burnley 2-2 Aston Villa

• Nottingham Forest 1-1 Newcastle

• Crystal Palace 2-2 Everton

Burnley interim manager Michael Jackson, speaking to BBC MOTD: "It was a good performance. If you look at today's group - we spoke about having belief - and they showed character."

On goalscorer Zian Flemming: "He's been incredible this year. He makes the maximum out of everything he gets each day and he's on double figures now in the Premier League. But I know he'd happily swap that for us staying in the Premier League."

On whether they are building for next season in the Championship: "It's about that now. It's about building on the foundations we have - we've had to do that before. I'm pleased for the group today that they have something to be proud of."

Clarets forward Zian Flemming speaking to Match of the Day: "A good point for us. Villa are fourth or fifth in the league and have been impressive this season, so for us to be 19th and getting a point against them - that's good."

On giving the fans something to smile about: "We've lost lots of games this season, especially at home. We haven't given the fans the results they wanted to see.

"We've played many games similar to this but have just lacked that final bit to get a result, never through a lack of effort or quality. However frustrating it is for the fans, we wished we could give them something to cheer for."

Did you know?

• Zian Flemming is the first Burnley player to score 10+ goals in a Premier League campaign since Chris Wood in 2020-21 (12).

• In the eighth minute, Jaidon Anthony's opener was the earliest Burnley have scored in a Premier League match this season, and earliest overall since December 2023 against Sheffield United.

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Burnley already know they will be in the Championship next season, with Mike Jackson now in caretaker charge after the exit of Scott Parker.

They had lost their past five games - and only won once since October.

So getting a point, including fighting back, against the team fifth in the table gave their fans something to cheer about.

They fully matched Villa and had 15 shots, six on target.

And they will have felt they deserved their opener, their earliest league goal this season, when Anthony took advantage of some debatable Martinez goalkeeping to net in the eighth minute. Flemming should have doubled their lead following a good cross from Loum Tchaouna.

Young German keeper Weiss, handed a Premier League debut with Martin Dubravka on the bench, pulled off some good saves.

And Jackson's side showed spirit to come back after going 2-1 behind with Ugochukwu passing to Hannibal Mejbri, who flicked the ball on for Flemming to net his 10th league goal of the season.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Burnley's performance

What did you make of Aston Villa's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Burnley make six changes from the side who lost to Leeds last time out.

German goalkeeper Max Weiss makes his Premier League debut. Defender Axel Tuanzebe makes his first appearance for the club in three months, while Lesley Ugochukwu, Hannibal Mejbri and Florentino all come in too.

Burnley XI: Weiss, Walker, Esteve, Tuanzebe, Pires, Ugochukwu, Florentino, Hannibal, Tchaouna, Anthony, Flemming.

Subs: Dubravka, Hartman, Bruun Larsen, Foster, Humphreys, Ward-Prowse, Amdouni, Broja, Laurent.

Aston Villa only make three switches from their Europa League win over Nottingham Forest. Ross Barkley, Tyrone Mings and Ian Maatsen replace Pau Torres, Lucas Digne and Emiliano Buendia.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen, Lindelof, Tielemans, Barkley, McGinn, Rogers, Watkins.

Subs: Bizot, Buendia, Digne, Torres, Abraham, Sancho, Luiz, Bogarde, Bailey.

There are four games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Burnley v Aston Villa - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Crystal Palace v Everton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Nottingham Forest v Newcastle - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• West Ham v Arsenal (16:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-offs 14:00 BST unless stated

Follow the three 14:00 games here

And go here for in-depth coverage of West Ham v Arsenal

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Crystal Palace v Everton" or "ask BBC Sounds to play West Ham v Arsenal", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Fifth-placed Aston Villa were booed off last weekend after losing at home to struggling Tottenham.

Unai Emery had made a lot of changes with his side's Europa League semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest in mind and they were pretty awful against Spurs.

Still, even if they are poor again here, I think they will get the better of managerless Burnley.

Sutton's prediction: 0-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Prudent Nsengiyumva
BBC Sport journalist

Relegated Burnley attempt to halt a hapless home run on Sunday (14:00 BST) when they welcome an Aston Villa side seeking Champions League qualification.

Burnley's home troubles show no sign of easing

Burnley's difficulties at Turf Moor have defined their season. They are winless in 13 Premier League home matches since October and risk equalling their longest such run in the competition if they fail to beat Villa.

It is part of a wider slump, with just one win in their past 26 league games. A change in the dugout has not yet shifted the trajectory, albeit Michael Jackson is still in the early stages of his tenure.

Burnley are winless in their past five league meetings with Villa and have rarely found this fixture straightforward in the Premier League era.

An isolated bright spot for the Clarets has been goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. He has made the most saves of any goalkeeper in the league – a reflection of the pressure Burnley have faced defensively. Despite conceding 71 goals, his performances have prevented an already bleak season from being even worse.

Villa's away form remains a concern

Villa have only collected seven points from their past eight league games, a run that has slowed their push for a top five finish. Nonetheless, it would take a significant collapse to miss out on Champions League qualification through their league position.

Reaching the Europa League final has offered an alternative route into Europe's top competition and may allow Unai Emery's side to play with more freedom in the run-in.

Their away record, though, continues to undermine them, with Villa winless in their past five league matches on the road.

Burnley interim boss Mike Jackson has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Aston Villa at Turf Moor (14:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Jackson confirmed he has a full squad available aside from long-term absentees Enock Agyei, Josh Cullen and Connor Roberts.

• Cullen is "coming along really well", while Roberts "will be playing in an under-21s game at some point in the next week".

• Reflecting on a week in which the Clarets lost at Leeds in their first match since relegation was confirmed, Jackson said: "A bit emotional at the start of the week. We just have to get on with it, be professional, respect the competition we are in, find a way of getting the lads going and getting some energy around the place. It's been a good week."

• On the mentality of the team following relegation: "It's a difficult situation but in the grand scheme of things we're privileged. We play football, we're in a great industry. It's been tough but there's a lot of things out here tougher than this. This week is just about reconnecting, getting some energy and identity back in and start working hard again."

• On the challenge posed by Villa: "After the result last night [Europa League semi-final win] it will bring a bit of confidence back into the team. They're a very good team, very well coached. They have improved year-on-year and I enjoy watching them play as well. They have a good style of play and are very good at what they do."

• On the importance of the Turf Moor crowd: "Let's be honest, we haven't been good enough at home this season. They deserve more from us but we really need them and we owe them. For us at home to try and create some intensity, be on the front foot and make a game of it we need them. We want to finish the season in a positive way."

• Jackson paid tribute to former Burnley defender Ben Mee, who made over 350 appearances for the club and announced his retirement on Thursday: "He was incredible for Burnley, he was the captain of the group we had. I wish him all the best in his retirement but no doubt we will see him around somewhere in coaching. If he puts as much into that as he did playing then I am sure he will be very successful."

Listen to live commentary of Burnley v Villa on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds

You can also find build-up, commentary and reaction from BBC Radio Lancashire on 95.5, 103.9 FM, and on BBC Sounds.

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Got a question about Burnley? Get in touch here and we'll seek answers from our experts

Everton will have to step up their efforts to sign Burnley defender Maxime Esteve as Bayer Leverkusen are keen on the Frenchman. (Football Insider, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Natalie Bromley
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

I watched the wave of player tributes for Scott Parker flooding Instagram last week with interest. The impact that he has had on those players, the relationships he built with them and the role model he has become was clear. There is little doubt that he held that dressing room tightly.

Why, then, did those players not perform on the pitch for him? In so many post-match interviews, Parker talked about disappointment, how plans were not followed and how his players were off the mark as against what they had prepared for.

It seems odd, doesn't it? That such a tight group of individuals could fail so spectacularly in their common goal?

The main takeaway for me is that Parker was perhaps too nice. It is not your job as head coach to be your players' friend, and players need to feel a sense of jeopardy in what they do.

I am not talking about fear or bullying, or the 90s hairdryer treatment - there is no place for that in sport, or in society any more - but managers need to be able to cultivate resilience and regulate emotional responses.

If managers allocate too much of their time and focus on being a friend and mentor, no matter how important that role is, do they then lack the ability to give the hard messages that make those performances improve?

I am starting to suspect that this has been a critical factor in Parker's failures this season – some of the best bosses I have learned from in my career have been those who were not afraid to deliver hard performance reviews, but who I ultimately got the best lessons from.

Mike Jackson now wants these players to use the final three games to develop some confidence and play for the fans.

I am not sure how relevant that is to us, given we will be saying goodbye to most of them soon, so I would rather the club uses the next three games to remember who we are.

A gritty little club in east Lancashire, around since the very beginning of the league, that gets up, shows up and lives for that little old mill town.

Find more from Natalie Bromley at No Nay Never podcast, external

Pundits Joe Hart and Wayne Rooney join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Friday and Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Brentford 3-0 West Ham United

• Newcastle United 3-1 Brighton

• Arsenal 3-0 Fulham

Tom Gayle
MOTD Commentator

Image source, Getty Images

For a few weeks now, Burnley had made it clear Hannibal Mejbri was on the verge of his return from a hamstring injury. I can't lie, after receiving the team news at Elland Road, I questioned the wisdom of whether his first game back should have been away at Leeds United.

This season the midfielder received a four-match ban and was given a £15,000 fine after admitting to spitting at Leeds supporters during Burnley's 2-0 victory at Turf Moor back in October.

The warmth of 'reception' was as you would expect. Being the last name on the teamsheet, it was a long build-up to the inevitable boos which followed "Hannibal" being read out by the stadium announcer.

A few behind the dugouts let their feelings be known as the 23-year-old made his way past to the visitors bench prior to kick-off. Midway through the first half, there was the sight of Hannibal receiving what appeared to be a one-man security escort as he made his way back to the tunnel.

Hannibal's eventual introduction came in the 54th minute. Despite still being soaked in the jubilation of Noah Okafor's goal, the vibes quickly changed as the Tunisian international's run onto the field was sound-tracked by a cacophony of jeers.

There was no let-up, his every touch was met by boos. In my eyes, there was more than one attempt from Leeds players to 'leave one on' the Burnley substitute. The pantomime bingo card-esque scenes were completed by loud cheers which greeted, firstly, Ethan Amadu's booking following a shoulder-high pull back on Hannibal, before Hannibal himself when he was cautioned for a late challenge on Brenden Aaronson.

When I questioned interim head coach Mike Jackson on the selection decision, there was no pondering within his response. "I always knew the reaction he would get. I said to Hannibal before the game, don't antagonise the crowd, just go on and show your quality."

While spitting towards someone is reviled across society, in the end, this may be seen as a win-win. Leeds supporters grasped the opportunity to vent their frustrations at Hannibal's indefensible actions, whereas Burnley were able to see the return of a talented and creative player.

We asked for your thoughts after Friday's Premier League fixture between Leeds United and Burnley at Elland Road.

Here are some of your comments:

Leeds fans

Robert: Fully deserved three points. Our players once again stood up to be counted when it really mattered. Nearly safe now!

Christopher: Delighted with the win but we seemed a bit nervy seeing the game out. We're so much better yet seemed to make it tough for ourselves unnecessarily.

Eric: The major thing here is the three points - priceless. However, once again Leeds made it hard for themselves in a game they should have killed off by half-time. But they came out second half and did the business - and a good job too because we started to let Burnley get back into it in the final 20 minutes.

Hanif: Fantastic. Been a tough season, with highs and lows, but determination and true grit has seen us get to this point where our Premier League status is all but secured. Well done, Leeds.

Burnley fans

Peter: A shocking defensive display. No shape, ball watching and thanks but goodbye to our goalkeeper, who was responsible for two of the goals. There is a nucleus of players who are good enough for the challenge next season, so we need a couple of decent additions and, most importantly, a manager who is not only a good friend to the players but a good coach and inspiration as well. Come back, Craig Bellamy.

Steve: The players have no team spirit - there's no fight there. We seem to constantly want to play out from the back and invariably lose the ball. When we get into the opponent’s half the team is lost - there's no attacking mentality.

Jack: What do you expect when you have five at the back and still room given for the first goal? Diabolical. I just don't get it. Not one of this team should be wearing the Burnley shirt. For once, I believe we need a completely new team next season.

Peter: Again and again we showed that Premier League football was a step too far for this collection of players. We can only hope that next season’s squad is better. It would be nice to have something to cheer.

Burnley interim boss Mike Jackson, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "We started the game a bit jittery. I knew this could go one of two ways with what has happened in the last 24 hours, and I knew there could be some nerves and anxiety. I think we grew into the game in the back end of the first half and we started the second quiet well, but then again at this level you can't give away errors that lead to goals and ultimately that has cost us in the end.

"We wait sometimes to get going, to go a goal down and then it is like 'ok let's go'. We need to give ourselves a better chance by competing from the start.

"Win a game of football. It is as simple as that. I don't look at anything else in terms of outside. Strip it all back and it's about trying to win a game of football between now and the end of the season, to give our supporters something to hold onto to go into next year. That is the sole focus. It is up to us now as a group of staff to bring these lads together and to try to give them that confidence because it is difficult when you are down there."

On who is in the frame to take the reigns going forward: "This is just coming less than 24 hours. That for me is as far away from my thoughts as possible. No one has spoken about anything to do with that. The club and players have had to deal with the manager leaving who was really close to ourselves and the group."

Did you know?

• Burnley fell to their 23rd defeat of the Premier League season, only the fourth time they have lost that often in a league campaign, after 1975-76 (23), 2009-10 (24), and 2023-24 (24).

• Burnley have lost each of their last four away league games all by a margin of 2+ goals; it's their longest losing run by two or more goals on the road in the league since January 2010 (5 in a row).

Keifer MacDonald
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

It has been a bruising few days for Burnley.

Only eight days after their relegation to the Championship was confirmed, the club announced that popular head coach Scott Parker had left his position by mutual consent.

Less than 48 hours later, this defeat to high-flying Leeds United underlined the contrasting fortunes of the two sides since their return to the Premier League.

Last May, Leeds pipped Burnley to the Championship title on goal difference after both sides amassed 100 points.

But less than 12 months on, the gap between them is far more significant - now standing at five places and 23 points.

That is because Leeds, despite a stuttering start, have emerged as one of the Premier League's surprise packages this season. Farke's side have won 10 of their 35 games and are all but safe from relegation.

Burnley, by contrast, have managed just four wins all season and have been stuck in the relegation zone since November.

This is not just a defeat that must serve as a lesson, but the season as a whole. Since their relegation in 2022 after six consecutive years in the top flight, Burnley have yo-yoed between the first and second tiers.

It is clear that the model Burnley and working towards has it flaws and will require significant changes in the summer if they are to not only to secure another promotion, but to re-establish themselves as a competitive Premier League side.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Leeds' performance

What did you make of Burnley's display?

Come back on Saturday for a selection of your replies

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has made three changes to the side that lost against Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday.

Goalkeeper Lucas Perri, defender Gabriel Gudmundsson and midfielder Brenden Aaronson are replaced by Karl Darlow, James Justin and Anton Stach, who returns from a spell on the sidelines with an ankle injury.

Leeds XI: Darlow, Bogle, Struijk, Bijol, Rodon, Justin; Tanaka, Ampadu, Stach; Okafor, Calvert-Lewin

Subs: Perri, Byram, Bornauw, Longstaff, Aaronson, James, Gnonto, Piroe, Nmecha

In the opposite dugout, interim Burnley manager Michael Jackson has named the same XI that lost to Manchester City in the Premier League nine days ago.

Burnley XI: Dubravka, Walker, Humphreys, Ekdal, Esteve, Hartman; Laurent, Ward-Prowse; Anthony, Flemming, Tchaouna

Subs: Weiss, Worrall, Ugochukwu, Edwards, Florentino, Pires, Amdouni, Broja, Hannibal