Burnley retakes Championship summit at Christmas

BALTIMORE, Maryland December 23, 2013 - The determined Claret of Burnley will spend Christmas atop the English Championship Table.  Midfielder Scott Arfield scored only two minutes into the second half Saturday with a sizzling 40' rocket, and together with reliable Danny Ings 36' shot just seven minutes from the outset, presented Burnley with a 2-1 Yuletide victory over Blackpool. Combined with Leicester City's 1-0 win over the Queen's Park Rangers, the Claret triumph presents Burnley with a holiday atop the Championship table.  The advantage is a mere point, but taken gratefully nonetheless.  Sitting a point behind are QPR and Leicester.  The holiday is also short, as the Claret collide with Middlesbrough the day after Christmas.  In the Championship, the top two teams at season's end in May are automatically promoted to the Premier League, while the next four finishers enter a single elimination playoff, with only the winner getting a third coveted promotion.