Burnley continued their impressive run under Scott Parker, securing a 2-0 victory over Swansea City at the Swansea.com Stadium. Josh Brownhill was once again the hero, scoring a crucial goal as the Clarets climbed to second place in the league standings.
Swansea, despite showing glimpses of promise, struggled to break down a disciplined Burnley side, who executed their game plan to perfection. A second goal in the latter stages sealed a comfortable win for the visitors, reinforcing their promotion credentials.
Burnley’s Control and Brownhill’s Breakthrough
The game began with Burnley looking confident in possession, moving the ball swiftly and pressing Swansea high up the pitch. The home side, under pressure from the first whistle, struggled to build from the back, with Burnley’s midfield trio dictating the tempo early on.
Swansea did have the first real chance of the match in the 8th minute when Jamie Paterson’s curling effort from the edge of the box forced Burnley keeper Arijanet Muric into a diving save. However, that moment of promise was short-lived as Burnley began asserting their dominance.
In the 17th minute, Burnley nearly found the opener. Zeki Amdouni combined well with Johann Berg Gudmundsson before delivering a low cross into the area. The ball reached Jay Rodriguez, who fired a powerful shot on goal, only for Swansea keeper Carl Rushworth to make a fine reflex save.
The pressure from the visitors eventually paid off in the 26th minute, and once again, it was Josh Brownhill who made the difference.
A quick counterattack started by Sander Berge saw Burnley break through Swansea’s midfield. Berge found Brownhill in space just outside the penalty area, and with a composed touch, the midfielder unleashed a precise low drive into the bottom corner, leaving Rushworth with no chance.
Burnley 1-0 ahead, and fully deserving of their lead.
Swansea tried to respond immediately, pushing forward with more urgency. In the 32nd minute, Liam Cullen got on the end of a whipped cross from Matt Grimes but failed to generate enough power on his header, making it an easy save for Muric.
As the first half wore on, Burnley remained organized and composed, ensuring they went into halftime with their advantage intact.
Burnley’s Defensive Strength and Late Killer Blow
Swansea started the second half with more energy, knowing they needed to be more aggressive to break down Burnley’s well-structured defense. In the 51st minute, Grimes tried his luck from distance, but his effort flew harmlessly over the bar. Moments later, substitute Ollie Cooper nearly capitalized on a defensive mix-up, but his shot was brilliantly blocked by Jordan Beyer, denying Swansea a clear chance to equalize.
Despite Swansea’s improved attacking intent, Burnley remained dangerous on the counterattack. In the 64th minute, Brownhill nearly doubled his tally, meeting a Gudmundsson free-kick with a powerful header that whistled just wide of the post.
With Swansea pushing forward in search of an equalizer, Burnley took full advantage of the space left at the back.
In the 78th minute, the Clarets sealed the victory. A defensive clearance by Muric found Anass Zaroury in midfield, who immediately launched a quick break. Zaroury played a perfect pass into the path of Jay Rodriguez, and the experienced forward kept his composure to slot the ball past Rushworth, making it 2-0 to Burnley.
Swansea’s heads dropped after conceding the second goal, and Burnley comfortably saw out the remainder of the match, claiming a deserved three points.
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Scott Parker (Burnley Manager):
“Another solid performance from the team. We knew it wouldn’t be easy coming here, but we stayed disciplined and took our chances. Josh (Brownhill) is in fantastic form, and the team is showing great confidence right now. We just need to keep this momentum going.”
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Luke Williams (Swansea Manager):
“Frustrating result for us. We had spells where we played well, but we didn’t create enough clear-cut chances. Burnley are a very strong side, and they punished us when it mattered. We have to regroup and improve.”
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Josh Brownhill on His Goal and Burnley’s Performance:
“I’m really enjoying my football right now. The team is playing great, and I’m happy to contribute with another goal. We’re showing a strong mentality, and we want to keep pushing towards the top.”
Burnley’s Defensive Solidity Was Key
Burnley absorbed pressure well and maintained their shape throughout the match. Jordan Beyer and Dara O’Shea were rock solid at the back, limiting Swansea’s attacking threat.
Josh Brownhill’s Influence Continues to Grow
With another goal, Brownhill is proving to be one of Burnley’s most important players this season. His ability to time his runs into the box and finish clinically is giving Burnley an extra attacking dimension.
Swansea Lacked a Cutting Edge
Despite some promising spells of possession, Swansea struggled to create clear chances against a well-drilled Burnley side. Their final ball was often lacking, and they will need to be more creative in the final third moving forward.
Burnley’s Promotion Push Gathers Momentum
With this victory, Burnley move into second place, strengthening their position as serious promotion contenders. The team is growing in confidence, and under Parker’s guidance, they look well-equipped for a return to the Premier League.
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Swansea City
Swansea will need to bounce back quickly as they face a crucial fixture against a mid-table opponent. They must work on their finishing and creativity to turn possession into goals.
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Burnley
Burnley will look to extend their winning run in their next match, as they continue their push for automatic promotion. With confidence high, they will be aiming for another dominant performance.
Burnley’s clinical finishing and defensive discipline were the difference in this match. Josh Brownhill’s goal set the tone, and Jay Rodriguez’s late strike sealed a professional performance from Scott Parker’s side.
Swansea, despite some promising moments, failed to truly threaten Burnley’s defense, and they will need to find a solution quickly if they want to improve their league standing.
For Burnley, this win sends a strong message to their promotion rivals. With Parker at the helm and momentum firmly on their side, the Clarets are well-positioned to challenge for a return to the Premier League.
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