BALTIMORE, Maryland April 13, 2014 - Today is Sunday, April 13. There are now four matches remaining on Burnley's list of fixtures, two on the road and two, like Saturday's match against Middlesboro, at home at Turf Moor. Four matches.
Burnley is eight points clear of Derby County, and 10 points clear of Queens Park. Derby rallied past Huddersfield Town, 3-1. If Derby can finish up with, say, three wins and a draw, they would be at 85 points. Burnley stands now at 83 points, meaning that they would either need to win one match or draw in three to clinch. If Derby can run the table, they would be at 88 points. Burnley would need six points in the four games, meaning they would need two wins or one win and three draws. Just to put things in perspective, if you take my meaning...
The Claret's opponents, in order, over the next four matches are: April 18 at Blackpool; April 21 home v. Wigan Athletic; April 26 home v. Ipswich Town; May 3 at Reading.
Derby County's opponents, in order: April 18 at Doncaster Rovers; April 21 home v. Barnsley; April 26 home v. Watford; May 3 at Leeds United
Queens Park Rangers opponents, in order: April 19 at Leicester City; April 21 home v. Watford; April 26 home v. Millwall; May 3 at Barnsley
Here are the Championship Standings up to the minute, and with only the teams still in contention for the promotion playoffs listed:
1. Leicester City: 27 wins, 8 draws, 6 losses, 89 points
2. Burnley: 23 wins, 14 draws, 5 losses, 83 points
3. Derby County: 22 wins, 9 draws, 11 losses, 75 points
4. Queens Park Rangers: 21 wins, 10 draws, 11 losses, 73 points
5. Wigan Athletic: 19 wins, 10 draws, 12 losses, 67 points
6. Brighton: 17 wins, 13 draws, 12 losses, 64 points (Goal Differential: +12)
7. Ipswich City: 17 wins, 13 draws, 12 losses, 64 points (Goal Differential: +8)
8. Reading: 17 wins, 12 draws, 12 losses, 63 points
9. Bournemouth: 17 wins, 11 draws, 14 losses, 62 points
10. Blackburn: 15 wins, 15 draws, 12 losses; 60 points
11. Nottingham Forest: 14 wins, 17 draws, 11 losses, 59 points
12. Middlesboro: 14 wins, 16 draws, 12 losses, 58 points
13. Watford: 14 wins, 15 draws, 12 losses, 57 points
14. Bolton: 13 wins, 15 draww, 14 losses, 54 points
As for Saturdays match with Middlesboro and Burnley, it appears obvious that the Claret ran up against a side that has been one of the best in the Championship over the second half of the season. When a team is mired in 12th place it never scares anybody, but an examination of the table proves they are now a team to be reckoned with. From the beginning of the season until December 14, Middlesboro was 4 wins, 8 draws and 8 losses. Beginning on December 21, Middlesboro has played at an elite clip, winning 10, drawing in 8 and losing but 4. There are other secrets buried in the Middlesboro story, and one of these secrets rose up and bit the Claret last Saturday. In 22 matches since December 21, Middlesboro and their outstanding keeper, Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, have shut out opponents 14 times, in five other matches they have surrendered one goal, and in the other five matches they surrendered two scores. They have not surrendered three or more scores during this run. And still, the Claret came oh so close to breaking through. With Kieran Trippier, Danny Ings, Dean Marney and even Junior Stanislaus back on the pitch, Burnley was able to press the attack on several occassions. In the 17th minute, Kieran Trippier broke through the defense while racing down the right side, then sent a simply beautiful pass to Danny Ings, but his left-footed shot edged wide. About two minutes later, Michael Kightly's header got by Konstantopoulos, but to the stunned chagrin of the Turf Moor faithful, the shot hit the cross bar. Also in the opening 45 minutes, Marney fed Ings, and again the shot slipped just wide. The two teams went to the half deadlocked at zero. The second half was more of the same Claret charges. Soon after the teams returned Kightly again weaved into the Middlesboro box, found Ings ready, but the top scorer's shot was blocked by defenseman Albert Adomah. Sooon thereafter Middlesboro broke into the lead. Lee Tomlin broke forward and passed beautifully to Jacob Butterfield, whose left-footed shot edged past Claret Keeper Tom Heaton. Burnley did everything they could to equalize. In the 72nd minute, Trippier charged forward and passed effectively to Ings, and again the shot, taken quickly, slipped just wide. Near time, Trippier crossed to Ings and once again the shot edged wide.
The long season must have games like this, they always do. In truth, Burnley has had far fewer than most. The Claret have only been defeated five times. The team ahead of them, Leicester, which lost again on Friday night to, Brighton, has six losses. No other team in the league of 24 has fewer than ten losses. Since beating Burnley on March 29, Leicester City is 0 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses. They have clinched their promotion but not the Championship Title. For that, they remain six points clear of the Claret. Fortunately for Leicester, they have five matches left.
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