Burnley moved three points from safety with a vital and commanding away win over bottom side Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
Jacob Bruun Larsen and Lorenz Assignon scored twice in quick succession to give the Clarets a two-goal lead at half-time.
Sheff Utd pulled a goal back through Gustavo Hamer early in the second half but Lyle Foster restored Burnley’s two-goal advantage just six minutes later, before Johann Berg Gudmundsson added further gloss to a big win.
Burnley's victory took them two points behind 18th-placed Luton Town - who suffered a crushing 5-1 home defeat to Brentford on Saturday - while Vincent Kompany's side are now just three points behind 17th-placed Nottingham Forest.
Crucially the Clarets, who have lost just one of their last seven league matches, host Forest on the final day of the season.
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 |
Nott'm Forest
NFO
|
38 | -18 | 32 |
| 18 |
Luton
LUT
|
38 | -33 | 26 |
| 19 |
Burnley
BUR
|
38 | -37 | 24 |
| 20 |
Sheffield Utd
SHU
|
38 | -69 | 16 |
Sheff Utd, who are winless at home since December, remain rooted to the bottom of the table and could be relegated after their next match on Wednesday.
How the match unfolded
Having been at fault for costly goals in the previous two matches, Burnley goalkeeper Arijanet Muric made big saves early on and rewarded Kompany's decision to keep faith with him.
After denying Oliver McBurnie from close range, Muric made himself big to also deny Ben Brereton Diaz after the Blades forward had got in behind the Burnley defence following a neat one-two with Hamer.
McBurnie then tested Muric with a fierce strike at his near post, which the goalkeeper tipped over.
The hosts were made to rue those missed opportunities when they fell behind in the 38th minute. Following a fine run from Wilson Odobert, Bruun Larsen’s volley took a deflection and snuck in at Ivo Grbic’s near post.
Sheff Utd’s frustration was compounded 99 seconds later – the Clarets doubling their lead as Assignon dribbled into the penalty area, glided past Brereton Diaz and, with the help of a deflection, finished low past Grbic.
The Blades revived hopes of a comeback seven minutes into the second half when Hamer placed an excellent finish beyond Muric.
Brereton Diaz then nearly restored parity, but he was again thwarted by Muric.
It proved to be a pivotal moment because Burnley promptly made it 3-1. Assignon picked out Foster as the Blades defence parted, and the striker coolly slotted home.
Thirteen minutes later, substitute Gudmundsson settled the contest with a precise finish into the bottom-left corner.
Club report
Next Premier League fixtures
Key facts
Sheffield United are the first side that Burnley have managed to complete the double over in the Premier League this season. In fact, the Blades are the first opponents that the Clarets have managed to do so against across each of their last two campaigns in the competition (last doing so v Crystal Palace & Wolves in 2020-21).
Sheffield United have become just the third team in history to concede 50+ goals at home in an English top-flight campaign, after Aston Villa in 1935-36 (56) and Chelsea in 1959-60 (50).
Burnley have scored nine goals against Sheff Utd in the Premier League this season, the outright most they’ve netted against an opponent in a single campaign in the competition (overtaking seven vs AFC Bournemouth in 2018-19).
There were just 159 seconds between Burnley's opener and their second goal, which is the Clarets' second fastest quickfire strikes in the Premier League this season, behind only 112 seconds between their third and fourth goals against Sheffield United in the reverse fixture.
