Stoke City 0-1 Burnley: Josh Cullen Strike Earns Leaders A Fifth Consecutive Win

30 December 2022


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ByGed Scott
BBC Sport at the bet365 Stadium


Vincent Kompany's Burnley made it five successive league wins as they scraped to a narrow success at Alex Neil's fiery Stoke to climb up 3 points clear at the top of the Championship again.


Josh Cullen's scrappy close-range strike on 60 minutes - the summertime signing from Anderlecht's first goal for the club - showed the distinction in between 2 well-matched sides.


The in-form Clarets were provided among their hardest tests of the season before restoring their three-point cushion over second-placed Sheffield United, who had actually won at Blackpool 24 hours previously.


But Kompany's Clarets and the Blades have actually broken away from the chasing pack.


Burnley have actually now opened up a 14-point space on third-placed Blackburn Rovers, who are 11 points adrift of that 2nd automated promo place, while the remainder of the congested Championship leading 10 are separated by simply 3 points.


Friday's Championship action, as it took place


Out-of-form Stoke, now simply 5 points clear of danger, appeared like they had Burnley particularly rattled early on.


Confusion in between Ian Maatsen and goalkeeper Arijanet Muric as Tyrese Campbell gave chase to what seemed fruitless pursuit of a confident long ball allowed the Stoke striker to round the keeper and get to the byline wide out.


But, when he squared over to what need to have been a practically empty internet, nobody had made the supporting run.


Campbell then took a crack at blocked after a from Muric.


Burnley started to take more control and may have had a penalty claim when Manuel Benson's face the Stoke charge location ended when he was relatively reduced by Morgan Fox.


Referee Keith Stroud waved the visitors' claims away, just as he provided for 2 Stoke penalty yells in the 2nd half.


There was a double escape for Burnley when Morgan Fox took a crack at obstructed at close quarters by keeper Muric in a scramble.


But the Clarets had a bit extra waiting on the bench in the form of Morocco's Anass Zaroury and leading scorer Jay Rodriguez - and within 8 minutes of them beginning Burnley struck.


Harry Clarke had an opportunity on the objective line to clear Benson's deflected shot but it rebounded back off keeper Jack Bonham a few feet off the flooring and Cullen flew in to take off and prod the ball over the line.


Who's next?


Having completed their final games of 2022, both sides are back in action on Monday on the New Year's Day bank holiday.


Stoke are at home once again versus manager Neil's former side Preston, while Burnley go to Swansea.


Stoke City employer Alex Neil told BBC Radio Stoke:


"It was a truly tight, cagey match. We did a lot of things well. We were disciplined and arranged. And I do not think we should have to lose.


"The objective we conceded was aggravating, to state the least. It wasn't created by them. It was handed out by us.


"I feel for the gamers because they worked so tough against the best team in the league."


Burnley employer Vincent Kompany told BBC Radio Lancashire:


"That was a big win. Maybe our greatest win of the season - if you don't take into account the derby. Winning a night video game at Stoke is big.


"It was scrappy however if you do it that way it gives you self-confidence for the next time. It gives you a factor to believe.


"Credit to Stoke but, unlike that day versus Sheffield United, we didn't allow the opposition to put us under pressure so much."


Burnley