Burnley beat Sheffield Wednesday to go top of the Championship

Posted Sunday, October 20, 2024 by PA

Burnley climbed to the top of the Championship table after goals from Jaidon Anthony and Josh Brownhill gave them a 2-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.

Anthony gave the Clarets a 37th-minute lead and Brownhill doubled the advantage five minutes after half-time.

Victory extended Burnley’s unbeaten run to seven matches and moved them two points above Sunderland, who play on Sunday.

Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl made three changes from the 2-1 win away at Coventry before the international break, with Ike Ugbo, Marvin Johnson and Olaf Kobacki joining the starting XI.

Burnley manager Scott Parker also made a trio of switches from the 0-0 draw at home to Preston, with Connor Roberts, Zian Flemming and Josh Laurent coming in.

The home side started brightly as Shea Charles released Pol Valentin down the right but Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford did well to smother man and ball.

At the other end, Wednesday keeper James Beadle was left stranded when Brownhill’s effort deflected off Akin Famewo but the ball trickled just wide of the target.

The hosts’ biggest chance of the half came from Barry Bannan’s free-kick from the left but Ugbo could only divert his diving header over the crossbar.

The Owls went close again when winger Kobacki got a shot away after good feet in the box but Trafford’s low save was comfortable.

But Burnley went ahead in the 37th minute. Anthony coolly finished past Beadle after he was the first to react to Yan Valery’s mistake at the back.

Wednesday nearly equalised seconds after the break when Valentin got in behind the Clarets defence but no one got on the end of his cross.

And the hosts would live to regret it as the Burnley doubled their advantage when skipper Brownhill tapped in from close range in the 50th minute.

Josh Laurent could have put the game to bed but his header flew wide of the mark after a cross from the left.

The home side used all five substitutes during the course of the second half in an attempt to get back into the game but Burnley were by far the better of the two sides.

Anthony’s free-kick was well saved by Beadle and substitute Jeremy Sarmiento had an open goal from the rebound but somehow his header hit a post.

The day was summed up for the Owls in stoppage time when substitute Michael Smith had an open goal but smashed his volley over the bar.