Burnley seal immediate promotion back to Premier League with seven games to spare with win over Middlesbrough

Burnley clinched promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt as a 2-1 win over Middlesbrough guaranteed a top-two Championship finish with seven games to spare.

The Clarets have enjoyed a dominant campaign in the second tier under Vincent Kompany, boasting the most wins (25), most goals scored (76) and fewest conceded (30).

A 2-1 win at the Riverside Stadium against Middlesbrough on Friday made sure of Burnley’s promotion, taking them up to 87 points.

They are 11 points ahead of second-placed Sheffield United in the other automatic promotion spot, but crucially moved 19 points clear of Luton Town, who have six games left to play.

Goals from Ashley Barnes and Connor Roberts either side of a Chuba Akpom penalty sealed victory over Boro, extending Burnley’s unbeaten league run to 19 games.

Kompany’s side have lost just twice in the Championship all season – a 1-0 defeat away to Watford on August 12 and a 5-2 loss at Sheffield United on November 5.

Their promotion was sealed almost exactly a year on from sacking long-standing manager Sean Dyche as the club tumbled towards relegation from the Premier League in 2021/22.

Former Manchester City defender Kompany’s appointment and some savvy recruitment helped them to rebuild quickly following the demotion and they will return in 2023/24 for their ninth Premier League campaign.

Sheffield United are best placed to join them in earning automatic promotion, with The Blades sitting eight points clear of the chasing pack in second.

Luton, Middlesbrough, Millwall and Blackburn Rovers currently occupy the play-off spots, but the likes of Norwich, Preston and Coventry are firmly in the hunt.

Burnley veteran Barnes, who scored the opener in Middlesbrough, revealed after full-time that he won’t be joining the Lancashire club in the top flight next season.

“After a difficult season to get relegated in the way we did, to bounce back and get straight back up is phenomenal,” Barnes told Sky Sports. “This is the end of my era as a Burnley player, I’m quite emotional to score.

“It’s time to move on. It’s one of those things, I’m delighted for the staff and players and the fans. They’ve been through some tough times and it’s nice to give that back to them today.

“I’ll enjoy every moment. The job is done but now we want to be champions and finish it off.”

Burnley face Sheffield United on Monday as they now turn their attention to wrapping up the Championship title.

They need 11 points from their remaining seven games to do so, while 13 more points would make them the first Championship side to hit the 100-point landmark since Leicester City nine years ago.