CHAMPIONSHIP CHAOS

‘IF you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs’...

Rudyard Kipling’s famous poem ‘If...’ is often referred to at the business end of the season, but it has never seemed more pertinent in the Championship than now.

The chasing pack are all struggling for consistency.

Sixth placed Sheffield Wednesday run a fairly steady ship, but above them Derby are seemingly in disarray and on Saturday surrendered a 3-0 lead late on to draw 3-3 at Rotherham; Brighton were without a game, while Hull were held to a 1-1 draw at home to MK Dons.

Middlesbrough’s situation is the most alarming, with the future of manager Aitor Karanka up in the air. Banishing the boss from the training ground and the dug-out at Charlton after a fall-out was compounded by second top losing 2-0 to second bottom.

Burnley took care of their own business and carried on regardless to strengthen their stance in top spot.

 

GOALS GALORE

NOT only have Burnley found different ways to win this season, but they have different outlets for goals too.

Of Saturday’s starting XI goalkeeper Tom Heaton was the only player not to get on the scoresheet this season.

The Clarets are the top scorers in the Championship with 60. Goals have come from all departments, and in different ways.

Sean Dyche’s side were dominant at set pieces, with their first and last goals of the three the product of fit-again midfielder David Jones’ corners.

It is an area where they have demonstrated prowess this season, with a total of 15 set-piece goals the joint highest in the Championship, alongside rivals Blackburn Rovers.

More than half of their 60 have come from open play (34), with seven penalties, two own goals and two counter-attacks making up the numbers.

 

MIDFIELD COMPETITION

DAVID Jones resumed his central midfield partnership with Joey Barton after recovering from the Achilles problem which ruled him out of last Tuesday’s win at Fulham.

Fredrik Ulvestad was handed his first Championship start in Jones’ absence, while Dean Marney - who is continuing to work towards full match fitness - came off the bench to influence the result.

Competition for places is strong all over the pitch, but particularly in that midfield area.

But the Jones-Barton combination has been a productive one, with Jones the unsung hero of the side.

The former Manchester United and Wigan man has an 85 per cent pass accuracy rate, with the most passes completed of all the Clarets side (1,359), and at 43 the most chances created (six assists with 37 key passes).