Burnley boss ponders huge threat to promotion as Clarets...

Burnley maintained another clean sheet on Tuesday night, although it is not a problem to keep them out.

Thanks to a narrow 1-0 victory over Oxford United, Burnley moved up to second place, overtaking Sheffield United

in the race for automatic promotion from the Championship.

With yet another clean sheet, the Clarets have now gone an amazing nine games without giving up a league goal and

have only allowed nine goals in the Championship this season.

However, it’s at the other end of the pitch that remains a concern for Scott Parker’s side as they were guilty of

missing a number of gilt-edged opportunities to put the game to bed.

Although scoring goals is a big concern and the addition of some attacking quality during the January transfer

window may eventually solve the issue, Burnley fans are well aware of how critical it is that they cease depending on

that outstanding backline to help their team win games.

Even as Clarets supporters yelled, “We’ve scored a goal!” it was thought that Oxford’s Michal Helik had sent the ball

into his own net.

They had just returned from another away game at Portsmouth the previous weekend, and this most recent game at

Turf Moor followed four 0-0 draws at home.

Now, Parker admits that Burnley’s woes in front of goal could be all in the heads of his attacking players.

“It’s obvious that we missed some excellent opportunities. As a coach, I’m more happy that we had those significant

opportunities at the correct places. I think it’s important to have faith in ourselves and not hide from opportunities.

We didn’t execute, but we did that.

Parker’s team has played one more game than United, therefore Burnley is now ahead of the Blades on goal

differential, but Leeds United is still leading the Championship. The Clarets don’t play again until Wednesday, when

they host Hull on a night when United hosts Middlesbrough, while the Blades welcome Pompey to Bramall Lane on

Saturday.

Burnley boss ponders huge threat to promotion as Clarets overtake Sheffield United