10 Reasons Why Burnley Are Unexpectedly Back In The Premier League

3. A Miserly Defence

Burnley's success was built on a back four and goalkeeper that conceded just 37 goals the tightest defence in the Championship and even some of those goals were contentious. It was augmented by a midfield that funnelled back whenever needed and the enormous work-rate of people like Marney and Arfield. The defence had the ever-present Jason Shackell and the evergreen Michael Duff at its heart and "Thou shalt not pass," was basically its motto and its mantra. Such was the effectiveness of the back four that there were games when goalkeeper Heaton was seldom troubled. Brian Clough always maintained that Peter Shilton was worth ten goals a season: when needed so was Tom Heaton with his commanding stature, quick reflexes, and safe hands when dealing with crosses. There was a point in the season when Joe Hart was struggling and the pundits were asking who could take his place: they could have looked at Tom Heaton, where they'd have found 21 clean sheets in all competitions alongside 26 wins, and just five defeats. And within this defence there was full-back Kieran Trippier who provided an astonishing 14 assists and in one of the final games prevented a certain goal with a spectacular headed clearance that involved a leap that was so balletic it left everyone awe-struck.