BALTIMORE, Maryland March 6, 2016 - Burnley continues to lead the English Championship League by one point over MIddlesbrough, although the two league leaders have at last begun to put a bit of air between them and the two clubs closest to them on the league table. The surging Claret won again on Saturday, beating back intrepid Blackburn, 1-0, on leading scorer Andre Gray's goal in the 16th minute - a penalty kick taken directly down the middle of the goal - enabling Burnley to sweep their old rivals for the first time since 1976. The victory put Burnley back ahead of Middlesbrough after the second place team had briefly taken the lead by virtue of playing and winning on Thursday night. Burnley has not lost in 2016, a span of some 12 matches. Tom Heaton earned yet another clean sheet in the Claret goal.
Burnley has 68 points, one more than the 67 earned so far by Middlesbrough. Third place Hull City and fourth place Brighton and Hove Albion each have 64 points. Fifth place Derby County has 60 points, while sixth place Sheffield Wednesday has 55 points.
The first and second place finishers in the Championship earn automatic promotion to the Premier League. The third through sixth place clubs enter a tournament, with only the winner earning the third Championship promotion. The other three teams in that end-of-year tournament return to the Championship,.
Burnley has 11 matches remaining. Middlesbrough and Hull have 12 matches left, while Brighton, Derby and Sheffield Wednesday have 11 matches left.
Burnley's next match is Tuesday night at 19th place Fulham.
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