Newly promoted club face a major challenge to stay up with the loss of key players including James Trafford hindering their chances
Guardian writers’ predicted position: 20th (NB: this is not necessarily Andy Hunter’s prediction but the average of our writers’ tips)
Last season’s position: 2nd in the Championship
No club encapsulates the widening gulf between the top two tiers of English football quite like Burnley. Their record over the past four seasons reads: relegated from the Premier League with 35 points, promoted as champions of the Championship with 101 points, relegated from the Premier League again with 24 points and promoted from the Championship again with 100 points. Too strong for one league but not strong enough for the next, Burnley and their ambitious owners face a considerable challenge to turn the tide of recent history.
Under Scott Parker, the newly promoted team are likely to adopt a more pragmatic approach to their Premier League return than last time under Vincent Kompany, although relegation didn’t do his career prospects any harm. Promotion was built on the back of an outstanding defence and survival may depend on a repeat performance. It is not only the step up in quality that casts doubt on those prospects, however, but the fact Parker has lost key components of the unit responsible for the best defensive record in English league history last season – a measly 16 goals in 46 games – with 30 clean sheets kept along the way.
