Burnley secured their immediate promotion back to the Premier League as a second-half winner from Connor Roberts earned them a 2-1 win at Middlesbrough.
The win over Middlesbrough guarantees a top-two Championship finish with seven games to spare.
Burnley 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).
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A 2-1 win at the Riverside Stadium against Middlesbrough 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.
The victory moved them 19 points clear of Luton Town, who have six games left to play.
Goals from Ashley Barnes and Connor Roberts on 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.
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.
Not playing well but winning- Kompany
Kompany said the manner in which Burnley achieved victory was typical of their season – not playing well but ending up on the right side of the result.
“It hasn’t been easy,” said Kompany.
“Days like today happen more than you think – we found a way. It was not easy at all. But somehow this season we also ended up on the good end of the game.
“There is a belief in the team, and it is still a team that can improve and that is the exciting part. They’re like kids, they’re celebrating like kids and that’s great to see.”
Asked to explain why Burnley achieved promotion, Kompany added: “Consistency. There are a couple of logical rules that we all know. If you don’t have the squad cohesion in the beginning it takes time, and you have to work hard, be objective and work hard.
“You are in the Championship so there are 46 games, you get that stress of games that help you improve quicker and after that is consistency, emotional consistency and a lot of hard work.”
