Burnley 3-1 Millwall: Clarets miss out on league title to Leeds United despite finishing on 100 points — Burnley Express 3/4/25
By Matt Scrafton
A dramatic final day in the Championship saw Burnley miss
out on a third straight Championship title despite overcoming Millwall.
Scott Parker’s men had to come from behind for the third
time in seven games to claim the victory that was needed if they stood any
chance of finishing first.
Millwall briefly led when Mihailo Ivanovic turned home from
close range, meaning Burnley were no longer able to break the all-time English
record for clean sheets in a season.
The lead lasted for barely 60 seconds, however, as Josh
Brownhill emphatically slotted home into the bottom corner.
The home side were utterly relentless in the second-half,
squandering a number of chances before finally taking the lead through Jaidon
Anthony, while Brownhill completed his brace with a late third.
It looked as though the league title would be returning to
Turf Moor, but a 91st minute winner from Leeds at Plymouth meant the Clarets
would have to settle for second place, becoming the first side in EFL history
to miss out on the title with 100 points to their name.
While there was no trophy lift, it remains a remarkable
campaign for Parker’s men, who equal Reading’s record of going 33 games
unbeaten.
Ashley Barnes was the man to get the nod up front in the
absence of Zian Flemming, who was ineligible to face his parent club.
Lyle Foster, meanwhile, was only fit enough to be named on
the bench following his recovery from a shoulder injury.
Parker made one other change to the side that thrashed QPR
5-0 last week, as Marcus Edwards came back in for Luca Koleosho.
Aaron Ramsey was named among the substitutes again after
making his long-awaited return at Loftus Road following his 14-month absence.
Jordan Beyer, Bashir Humphreys, Jonjo Shelvey, Enock Agyei
and Manuel Benson all remain sidelined.
As for Millwall, Alex Neil made one change to his side from
last weekend’s 1-0 win against Swansea City as George Honeyman came in for Luke
Cundle.
The Lions knew they realistically needed to win in order to
stand any chance of finishing in the play-offs and it was the away side who
threatened first, as Josh Coburn saw a shot blocked from 12 yards out.
Turf Moor was left shocked after 11 minutes when Mihailo
Ihanovic handed the visitors a surprise lead, as the forward nipped ahead of CJ
Egan-Riley at the near post to smartly turn home. There appeared to be a sniff
of offside in the build-up, but the linesman’s flag remained down.
Nevertheless, Burnley issued an instant response, levelling
within 60 seconds through that man Josh Brownhill.
Ashley Barnes deserved huge credit for his involvement in
the goal, crashing into a challenge to keep the ball alive inside the box. The
ball ricocheted nicely for Brownhill to emphatically slot home from just inside
the area for his 17th goal of the season.
As news filtered through that Leeds were trailing at
Plymouth, Burnley came close to going 2-1 ahead as Jaidon Anthony’s side-footed
effort at the back post beat the keeper, only to be cleared off the line.
Keeper George Evans then came to Millwall’s rescue as he
tipped over Brownhill’s vicious, swerving effort from 30 yards.
The equaliser appeared to have deflated Millwall, but the
away side missed an incredible chance to restore their lead when Coburn somehow
managed to steer wide from all of two or three yards, with the goal gaping.
Burnley created the first opening of the second-half and it
was a good one too, as Hannibal picked out the run of Anthony following a quick
Burnley break, but the winger’s effort was a weak one and Evans comfortably
saved with his legs.
Hannibal then came inches away from picking out the top
corner with a spiteful curling effort from the corner of the Millwall box.
The Clarets remained well on the front foot, as Barnes
nearly scrambled home at the near post before Anthony was again denied, this
time with a block from inside the six-yard box.
Edwards was the next man to squander a big chance, seeing
his effort deflect over the bar after Anthony had invitingly pulled the ball
back into his path.
Anthony, who had been at the heart of a lot of Burnley’s
good play, only to lack that killer instinct in the final third, atoned for
those misses when he finally gave the Clarets a deserved lead midway through
the second-half.
It started and finished with Anthony, who took down a long
ball with a delightful touch past his marker before slotting coolly beyond
Evans’ despairing dive. Turf Moor, as you would expect, absolutely erupted.
Millwall didn’t appear to be offering much during the final
stages as tiredness set in, but James Trafford was required to pull off an
important save in the 89th minute to turn Femi Azeez’s effort around the post.