It’s looking likely that Burnley could be the only newly-promoted side to suffer immediate relegation back to the Championship this season.
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Tuanzebe, Hannibal and Amdouni: Burnley injury update ahead of Nottingham Forest](https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/football/tuanzebe-hannibal-and-amdouni-burnley-injury-update-ahead-of-nottingham-forest-6579687 "Tuanzebe, Hannibal and Amdouni: Burnley injury update ahead of Nottingham Forest")
Bucking the trend of the previous two campaigns, where all six of the promoted sides have gone straight back down, Sunderland and Leeds United look on course to remain in the top flight.
The Black Cats, who finished 24 points behind Burnley this season, have enjoyed a remarkable campaign, sitting 10th on 46 points, a mammoth 26 in front of Scott Parker’s side.
While Leeds still have some work to do to retain their top flight status, Monday’s impressive 2-1 win moved Daniel Farke’s side six points clear of the dropzone.
With a home game against Wolves bottom side Wolves this weekend, and with the Clarets still to travel to Elland Road, the Yorkshire outfit look a good bet to stay up.
Burnley, by comparison, have endured a miserable campaign, sitting 12 points adrift of safety with only six games remaining.
Speaking during this afternoon’s press conference to preview Sunday’s trip to Nottingham Forest, the Burnley Express asked Parker why his side have struggled so much compared to Leeds and Sunderland.
Parker has been unable to replicate the success of Regis Le Bris and Daniel Farke, both inset, in the Premier League this season. Pictures: Getty Imagesplaceholder image
Parker has been unable to replicate the success of Regis Le Bris and Daniel Farke, both inset, in the Premier League this season. Pictures: Getty Images
He replied: “Last year, we finished 24 points ahead of Sunderland and in terms of Leeds, we managed the same amount of points.
“I think it’s fair to say that last year, with the team we had, three of our crucial players – our top goalscorer Josh Brownhill, CJ Egan-Riley was exceptional and James Trafford – all leave the club and we’ve recruited for that.
“At that moment in time, of course, you’d want to try and retain that squad, but that’s not happened.
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“Then we spent part of our budget on retaining players we already had, in Marcus Edwards, Zian Flemming, Jaidon Anthony [and Bashir Humphreys].
“We’ve also brought in the players that we physically can do, in terms of…I don't know what Sunderland is and I hate referencing other teams and seeing that for what they are, but that's probably brought more of an intensity.
“The bottom line is, at this moment in time, what we would need to have done this year would have been to over-achieve. I had to overachieve and the team would have had to overachieve consistently every single game and we've not managed to over-achieve.
“Like I always say, and I'm always reluctant when I sit here because I don't want this to come across as negative or pessimistic, but we went into this season, I went into this season, wanting to give this every bit of what we wanted to do and try and stay in this division.
“Understanding the challenges, of course, but having a real understanding also that we were going to need to, like I said, over-achieve and we've not managed to do that in our certain moments.
“Now, there's many reasons as well. We've not been able to get any sort of momentum when we won two on the bounce, we went to West Ham away, just the crucial moments or the fine lines of just different results, which could have maybe given us that bit of momentum. It didn't fall our way a little bit.
“But like I said, we've not managed, I don't feel we've managed to really over-achieve this year, which we would have had to have done.”
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