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Burnley up to third in English Championship

golf15 December 2024 18:16| © AFP
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Burnley's Josh Laurent (left) and Jaidon Anthony © Gallo Images

Burnley beat Norwich 2-1 to climb to third in the English Championship on Sunday as Watford overcame West Brom by the same scoreline.

Norwich defender Jose Cordoba headed home his first goal in English football in the second minute but Scott Parker's team hit back strongly after the break.

Substitute Zian Flemming's brilliant long-range strike levelled it for the Clarets midway through the second period and an emphatic finish from Josh Brownhill eight minutes later proved to be the winner.

Burnley, seeking an immediate return to the Premier League, are just one point behind second-placed Leeds, with the top two teams gaining automatic promotion.

Sheffield United top the table with 45 points, three clear of Leeds after 21 games.

Earlier, two sweetly taken goals by Vakoun Bayo gave Watford a 2-1 victory over West Brom at Vicarage Road that lifted Tom Cleverley's side back into play-off contention.

The Ivory Coast striker glanced home a first-half header before superb control on his chest ended with a shot on the swivel early in the second period.

Jayson Molumby pulled one back in the 67th minute but Watford held on despite a late scare.

The victory lifted them above their opponents and into seventh place in the Championship, behind Middlesbrough only on goal difference, while West Brom's 12-match unbeaten run came to an end.

"We knew the test we were facing and we've really risen to the challenge," Cleverley told the BBC. "It's two teams with the same objectives and, with everyone around us winning yesterday, the pressure was compounded.

"We really wanted to take the game to them and had so many good pieces of play that led to dangerous moments around the box."

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