Dave Thornley gets all jubilant as the Clarets break all records and get back to the EPL in rapid fashion.

Easter is a time in which we celebrate re-birth, renewal and resurrection and accordingly there could be no more appropriate time for Burnley to confirm the achievement of their promotion back to the Premier League; completed, it must be added, with an almost indecent seven games remaining.

It was at Easter last year, with the club facing relegation, that the decision was made to part company with Sean Dyche. A brief uptick in results followed but was not enough to prevent the drop into the Championship and a variety of sages, sooth-sayers and pundits lined up to impart grim portents of what lay in store for the club.

An exodus of out-of-contract and saleable players; eye-watering loan repayments due without Premier League money to fund them and no permanent manager at the helm. Many feared a steep decline, whilst others revelled in the prospect of it. Burnley had long outstayed their welcome in the Premier League and there were some who were keen to apply the boot to the stomach of their prostrate body.

It is to owner Alan Pace’s eternal credit that he did not panic or take the safety-first route. It would have been easy to appoint a manager of experience, competence, but no discernible record of success, to steady the ship and put together a squad of workmanlike triers who would see the club safe in mid-table.

Instead, Pace brought in Vincent Kompany. As a player, Kompany was used to the rarefied air of competing for trophies at the top end of the Premier League, he had little, if any, knowledge of the topsy-turvy, sweat and sawdust nature of life in the Championship. But Kompany is a man of substance, of presence and intelligence and as the trickle of new signings became a flood, optimism began to rise around the club.

The almost unalloyed surge towards promotion has been well chronicled here and elsewhere, and from early in the New Year, it became apparent that the team Kompany has put together would sweep their way back into the Premier League playing incisive, flowing, easy-on-the eye football.

So, to Friday the 7th of April, Good Friday. Whilst enjoying the sunshine and natural beauty of the Lake District, I received a text message from my Son which said simply “win, and we’re up!” The lunchtime match between Millwall and Luton had ended in a draw, which meant that if Burnley were to win at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium that evening, then the Clarets would be confirmed as being promoted back to the Premier League.

A strong team, nurturing realistic promotion hopes of their own, Boro would be no pushovers, but personally, as soon as I had received the text, there was no doubt in my mind that Burnley would seize their chance and complete the job that night.

That great club stalwart and fan favourite Ashley Barnes gave Burnley a first half lead, re-directing a Josh Brownhill shot past Steffan in the Boro goal.

Had this been a Premier League game, an outstretched arm may have caused the peevish killjoys in the VAR centre to rule it offside, but one of the many pleasures of this season has been the instant gratification of a prompt and binding refereeing decision.

Early in the second half a penalty of dubious origin afforded Middlesbrough the opportunity of an equaliser, which Akpon drilled low into the corner of Aro Muric’s goal. But that represented the most that the home team could offer and from then on, Burnley eased their way into control of the match and of their own destiny.

A move down the right wing created the space for Nathan Tella to cross the ball into the Boro goalmouth where Conor Roberts darted in to convert from close range; a poacher’s finish from Burnley’s full-back.

Save for Akpon heading wide late in the game, Burnley held on with a degree of comfort and at the final whistle, the celebrations could begin.

Kompany was struggling to contain his emotion in his post-match interview, Nathan Tella however made no effort to contain his; hyper-active and slightly incoherent with his match shirt wrapped around his head as he received the player-of-the-match award, his missed sitter when through on goal in the first half a now distant memory.

There was a poignant note amidst the outpouring of joy as Ashley Barnes told reporters that this would in all probability be his last season at Burnley. He joins Steve Davis and Michael Duff in contributing to three different promotion campaigns for the club. If indeed he does depart, it will be sad to see him go, but I would not mind betting that he will be back at the club in some capacity one day.

With seven games to go and still the Championship trophy to secure and records to chase, its back to business on Easter Monday with the visit of Sheffield United, the only team capable of denying Burnley that trophy. The atmosphere of celebration that will inevitably swirl around Turf Moor must not deflect the team from addressing the job still in hand.

We just need to get over the line now and grasp that well-earned trophy with both hands. (TEC.)

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