Stoke City 0-1 Burnley: Josh Cullen Strike Earns Leaders A 5th 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 triumph at Alex Neil's intense Stoke to climb up three points clear at the top of the Championship once again.


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


The in-form Clarets were offered one of their most difficult tests of the season before restoring their three-point cushion over second-placed Sheffield United, who had won at Blackpool 24 hr earlier.


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


Burnley have now opened a 14-point gap on third-placed Blackburn Rovers, who are 11 points adrift of that second automatic promo location, while the rest of the congested Championship top 10 are separated by just 3 points.


Friday's Championship action, as it happened


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


Confusion between Ian Maatsen and goalkeeper Arijanet Muric as Tyrese Campbell gave chase to what appeared in vain pursuit of a hopeful long ball allowed the Stoke striker to round the keeper and get to the byline large out.


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


Campbell then had a shot obstructed after a skewed clearance from Muric.


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


Referee Keith Stroud waved the visitors' claims away, simply as he provided for two Stoke charge yells in the second half.


There was a double escape for Burnley when Morgan Fox had a shot obstructed at close variety by keeper Muric in a scramble.


But the Clarets had a bit additional waiting on the bench in the type of Morocco's Anass Zaroury and top scorer Jay Rodriguez - and within eight minutes of them coming on Burnley struck.


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


Who's next?


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


Stoke are at home again versus supervisor Neil's previous side Preston, while Burnley go to Swansea.


Stoke City employer Alex Neil told BBC Radio Stoke:


"It was an actually tight, cagey match. We did a lot of things well. We were disciplined and organised. And I don't believe we deserved to lose.


"The goal we conceded was frustrating, to say the least. It wasn't created by them. It was given away by us.


"I feel for the gamers since they worked so tough versus the very best group in the league."


Burnley manager Vincent Kompany informed BBC Radio Lancashire:


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


"It was scrappy however if you do it that method it offers you self-confidence for the next time. It provides you a reason to believe.


"Credit to Stoke but, unlike that day against Sheffield United, we didn't allow the opposition to put us under pressure a lot."


Burnley