Championship
BurnleyBurnley1QPRQueens Park Rangers0

Burnley 1-0 Queens Park Rangers

By Phil CartwrightBBC Sport
Burnley celebrate
Burnley won promotion back to the Premier League 359 days after being relegated from the top flight

Burnley secured an immediate return to the Premier League by beating QPR.

The Clarets began the game at Turf Moor knowing a win would be enough to confirm a top-two finish after Brighton drew 1-1 with Derby earlier in the day.

After an edgy first hour, Sam Vokes headed in Dave Jones' free-kick to seal promotion at the first attempt.

Sean Dyche's side are only two points clear of Middlesbrough and Brighton, but cannot be overhauled by both as they face each other on the final day.

While Boro and Brighton fight for the remaining automatic promotion spot on Saturday, Burnley will be crowned champions if they win at relegated Charlton.

However, the Lancashire side were far from their best against mid-table Rangers and survived a scare when Alejandro Faurlin hit the post with a long-range drive with 20 minutes to play.

Burnley back in the big time

Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton
Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton has kept 19 clean sheets in 45 league appearances this season

Burnley confirmed their return to the Premier League just 359 days after dropping out of English football's top tier.

Following relegation, they lost striker Danny Ings to Liverpool, full-back Kieran Trippier to Tottenham and captain Jason Shackell to Derby, but invested heavily in their squad as they prepared for a promotion challenge.

Joey Barton has added guile and experience to Burnley's midfield, while record signing Andre Gray has repaid his sizeable fee with 22 goals in 40 league appearances.

Wales international Vokes has been an unsung partner of Gray - his winner against QPR was his 14th league goal of the season and his 11th since the turn of the year.

Victory over QPR extended Burnley's unbeaten run in the league to 22 games, the longest sequence in the division this season, with their last Championship defeat coming at Hull on 26 December.

During that run, Michael Keane netted stoppage-time equalisers against both Brighton and Middlesbrough - goals which have proved critical to Burnley's promotion chances in the closing weeks of the season.

Consistency of selection is one of manager Dyche's biggest traits and he has followed that policy again in 2015-16, using only 25 players in the Championship this season.

Burnley manager Sean Dyche told BBC Radio Lancashire: "We've worked so hard. It's been a different league this year and a different style to it.

"People have been having a real go financially, putting money into it. We've balanced the books and been successful again. I couldn't be more proud.

"It's definitely better (than promotion in 2014). It's been a much different challenge this time. The expectation rises from everyone, the money available to the club for its future - all of the things that it brings.

"Last time we were under the radar, it was a fairy tale. This one was organised, business-like and well-fashioned from all involved, especially the players."

Line-ups

Burnley

Formation 4-4-2

  • 1Heaton
  • 2Lowton
  • 5Keane
  • 6Mee
  • 23Ward
  • 21Boyd
  • 14Jones
  • 13Barton
  • 37Arfield
  • 9Vokes
  • 7GraySubstituted forBarnesat 76'minutes

Substitutes

  • 15Taylor
  • 16Dyer
  • 17Robinson
  • 18Hennings
  • 26Tarkowski
  • 27Darikwa
  • 30Barnes

QPR

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 29Ingram
  • 5Onuoha
  • 4Hall
  • 6Hill
  • 42KpekawaBooked at 45mins
  • 20Henry
  • 18Faurlin
  • 34PetrassoSubstituted forEl Khayatiat 70'minutes
  • 23HoilettSubstituted forWashingtonat 63'minutes
  • 7Phillips
  • 33PolterBooked at 4minsSubstituted forGladwinat 71'minutes

Substitutes

  • 9Washington
  • 11Gladwin
  • 13Lumley
  • 19El Khayati
  • 24Perch
  • 35Prohouly
  • 39Grego-Cox
Referee:
Jonathan Moss
Attendance:
19,362

Match Stats

Home TeamBurnleyAway TeamQPR
Possession
Home50%
Away50%
Shots
Home7
Away11
Shots on Target
Home2
Away6
Corners
Home3
Away5
Fouls
Home13
Away15

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Burnley 1, Queens Park Rangers 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Burnley 1, Queens Park Rangers 0.

  3. Post update

    Hand ball by George Boyd (Burnley).

  4. Post update

    Foul by Conor Washington (Queens Park Rangers).

  5. Post update

    Ben Mee (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  6. Post update

    Stephen Ward (Burnley) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  7. Post update

    Foul by Conor Washington (Queens Park Rangers).

  8. Post update

    Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Sam Vokes.

  9. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Alejandro Faurlin (Queens Park Rangers) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Abdenasser El Khayati with a cross.

  10. Post update

    Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Ben Mee.

  11. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Conor Washington (Queens Park Rangers) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Abdenasser El Khayati.

  12. Post update

    Scott Arfield (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  13. Post update

    Foul by Ben Gladwin (Queens Park Rangers).

  14. Post update

    Foul by Stephen Ward (Burnley).

  15. Post update

    Matt Ingram (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  16. Post update

    Corner, Burnley. Conceded by Matt Ingram.

  17. Post update

    Attempt saved. Scott Arfield (Burnley) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Sam Vokes.

  18. Post update

    Offside, Burnley. Ben Mee tries a through ball, but Ashley Barnes is caught offside.

  19. Substitution

    Substitution, Burnley. Ashley Barnes replaces Andre Gray.

  20. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Burnley452515569353490
2Middlesbrough452610962303288
3Brighton452416571413088
4Hull4523111164343080
5Derby452115966422478
6Sheff Wed451917965432274
7Cardiff451716125550567
8Ipswich451715135251166
9Birmingham451614155248462
10Brentford45188196766162
11Preston451516144444061
12Leeds451416154957-858
13QPR451318145354-157
14Wolves451316165157-655
15Blackburn451216174345-252
16Reading451313195156-552
17Nottm Forest451216174146-552
18Bristol City451313195470-1652
19Huddersfield451312205865-751
20Rotherham451310225266-1449
21Fulham451115196579-1448
22Charlton45913234077-3740
23MK Dons45912243867-2939
24Bolton45515254180-3930
View full Championship table