EFL expert outlines Burnley stat which is ‘almost more mental than 30 clean sheets’ after QPR demolition

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Burnley gained promotion back to the Premier League last week and Scott Parker’s side are now eyeing the title ahead of the final game of the season.

After they thumped QPR 5-0 away from home in the most recent round of Championship games, the Clarets will end the season against play-off chasing Millwall at Turf Moor.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LeedsLeeds	45	28	13	4	93	29	64	97
2	BurnleyBurnley	45	27	16	2	66	15	51	97
3	Sheff UtdSheffield Utd	45	28	7	10	62	35	27	89
4	SunderlandSunderland	45	21	13	11	58	43	15	76
5	Bristol CityBristol City	45	17	16	12	57	53	4	67
6	CoventryCoventry	45	19	9	17	62	58	4	66

Leeds United’s 4-0 win against Bristol City means Burnley are the outsiders in the top two race but anything is possible. At one stage, Burnley were considered as the underrated team in the automatic promotion picture, but it’s clear to see the reasons why they both beat Sheffield United to the top two.

Burnley have quality running throughout the team and some of the best players in the Championship, as illustrated by the fact they each had three players included in the Championship Team of the Season on Sunday night.

• READ MORE: ‘Mental’, ‘farcical’, Burnley and Leeds fans in agreement after Gus Hamer named as 2024/25 Championship Player of the Season

Ali Maxwell’s verdict on Burnley’s defensive record

Burnley’s improvement in recent months has been vital in getting them over the line, especially given the volume of 0-0 draws they were racking up at one point. January recruitment and a more attack-minded approach combined to make them a more well-rounded outfit.

Of course, their defensive exploits are the most impressive aspect and have even gained praise from Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer, such has been the foundations from which their promotion push has been built. But players like James Trafford and Josh Brownhill have been key to their success as well.

We revealed that they had matched an astonishing 71-year record yesterday regarding their clean sheets. EFL experts Ali Maxwell and George Elek of the Not The Top 20 podcast have spoken about an even more impressive aspect of their defence.

Maxwell said: “They went viral for a clip sprinting back to defend a QPR counter-attack. Even though they are already promoted, they are still doing that — and that’s been the bedrock of this promotion team.

“You know what? I think everybody knows they’ve got 30 clean sheets in 45 games. I think everybody knows they’ve only conceded 15.

“But it’s only just occurred to me when I worked out that they’ve got 30 clean sheets from 45 games and only conceded 15. That means, George, because I’m a zeros and ones guy, not a clean sheets guy — that means they’ve got zeros and ones in 45 out of 45 games.

“They have not conceded more than one goal in a Championship game. That, to me, is almost more mental than 30 clean sheets as well — not quite, that’s absolutely insane as well.”

Should they concede one or no goals to Millwall, they will have gone a whole season without conceding more than a solitary goal at most in a game. Trafford, Maxime Esteve, and CJ Egan-Riley have an outstanding understanding and have been so dominant in that respect.

If they are to survive and have success in the Premier League, they will need more than that, but Joe Hart believes his former side can, while Paul Merson has offered the Clarets and Leeds advice on how to make their top flight status linger for more than just one season again.

• READ MORE: Scott Parker blown away by ‘massive improvement’ of £5m Burnley star, he’s been ‘vital’ 

Burnley simply must keep Josh Brownhill for next season

The Clarets have broken numerous records already and they and Leeds can go further and both achieve 100 points to break more between now and the final whistle on Saturday. Burnley are also now 32 league games unbeaten ahead of the final day of the 2025 season.

Their star player is hard to nail down definitively, but it is between that defensive axis of the trio of Trafford, Esteve, and Egan-Riley, as well as their captain and talisman, Josh Brownhill.

An EFL Analysis exclusive outlined how desperate Burnley are to keep Brownhill but also that there are numerous clubs throughout Europe eyeing the midfielder on a free transfer. He’s been excellent in terms of his output, making his Team of the Season omission all the more bewildering.