Burnley inched closer to automatic promotion from the Championship as they reclaimed top spot with a 2-1 win over Norwich on Friday night.
Hannibal Mejbri and Jaidon Anthony scored for the Clarets, who were on course to match an all-time Football League record with a 30th clean sheet of the season until Jack Stacey scored inside the final 15 minutes.
Scott Parker’s side sit three points ahead of second-placed Leeds – who face Preston at Elland Road on Saturday – and five ahead of third-placed Sheffield United, who face Plymouth at Home Park. Both matches are live on Sky Sports+ at 12.30pm.
Saturday 12th April 12:25pm
Kick off 12:30pm
Saturday 12th April 11:00am
Kick off 12:30pm
Burnley were faced with a low block at Turf Moor but they quickly showed their ability to beat one. Josh Cullen found Hannibal Mejbri with a glorious ball from deep that the Tunisia international chested down and fired past Angus Gunn, despite being flanked by a pair of defenders.
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Hannibal Mejbri gets on the end of a brilliant Josh Cullen ball to give Burnley an early lead against Norwich
The visitors were punished heavily for giving the ball away cheaply 10 minutes later, as Josh Brownhill took over possession and teed up Jaidon Anthony, who had all the space in the world to cut the ball onto his right and fire a shot that hit Shane Duffy and wrong-footed Gunn before crossing the line.
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Burnley are in dreamland as Jaidon Anthony’s deflected shot gives them a two-goal advantage against Norwich
It could even have been three before the break, with Hannibal arriving to meet a square ball and crash a shot off the outside of the left-hand post.
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Norwich’s Jack Stacey produced an instinctive close-range finish to pull one back for the Canaries against Burnley
The renewed vigour for Norwich, brought by Josh Sargent’s introduction and a switch to a back four at the break, waned as the second half wore on, but a tense finale was set up when Kenny McLean’s header allowed Jack Stacey to tap in from close-range.
Nonetheless, despite conceding for just the 13th time this season, Burnley held on to win and preserve their status as one of only two teams in the top four divisions of English football – along with Birmingham – yet to lose at home this season.