Match ends, Burnley 1, Queens Park Rangers 0.
Burnley 1-0 Queens Park Rangers
- From the section Football
Burnley secured an immediate return to the Premier League by beating QPR.
The Clarets began the game at Turf Moor knowing a win would be enough to confirm a top-two finish after Brighton drew 1-1 with Derby earlier in the day.
After an edgy first hour, Sam Vokes headed in Dave Jones' free-kick to seal promotion at the first attempt.
Sean Dyche's side are only two points clear of Middlesbrough and Brighton, but cannot be overhauled by both as they face each other on the final day.
While Boro and Brighton fight for the remaining automatic promotion spot on Saturday, Burnley will be crowned champions if they win at relegated Charlton.
However, the Lancashire side were far from their best against mid-table Rangers and survived a scare when Alejandro Faurlin hit the post with a long-range drive with 20 minutes to play.
- How Burnley reached the Premier League
- READ MORE: Dyche hails 'business-like' promotion
- Listen: This promotion 'way better' than previous - Dyche
Burnley back in the big time
Burnley confirmed their return to the Premier League just 359 days after dropping out of English football's top tier.
Following relegation, they lost striker Danny Ings to Liverpool, full-back Kieran Trippier to Tottenham and captain Jason Shackell to Derby, but invested heavily in their squad as they prepared for a promotion challenge.
Joey Barton has added guile and experience to Burnley's midfield, while record signing Andre Gray has repaid his sizeable fee with 22 goals in 40 league appearances.
Wales international Vokes has been an unsung partner of Gray - his winner against QPR was his 14th league goal of the season and his 11th since the turn of the year.
Victory over QPR extended Burnley's unbeaten run in the league to 22 games, the longest sequence in the division this season, with their last Championship defeat coming at Hull on 26 December.
During that run, Michael Keane netted stoppage-time equalisers against both Brighton and Middlesbrough - goals which have proved critical to Burnley's promotion chances in the closing weeks of the season.
Consistency of selection is one of manager Dyche's biggest traits and he has followed that policy again in 2015-16, using only 25 players in the Championship this season.
Burnley manager Sean Dyche told BBC Radio Lancashire: "We've worked so hard. It's been a different league this year and a different style to it.
"People have been having a real go financially, putting money into it. We've balanced the books and been successful again. I couldn't be more proud.
"It's definitely better (than promotion in 2014). It's been a much different challenge this time. The expectation rises from everyone, the money available to the club for its future - all of the things that it brings.
"Last time we were under the radar, it was a fairy tale. This one was organised, business-like and well-fashioned from all involved, especially the players."
Line-ups
Burnley
- 1Heaton
- 2Lowton
- 5Keane
- 6Mee
- 23Ward
- 21Boyd
- 14Jones
- 13Barton
- 37Arfield
- 9Vokes
- 7GraySubstituted forBarnesat 76'minutes
Substitutes
- 15Taylor
- 16Dyer
- 17Robinson
- 18Hennings
- 26Tarkowski
- 27Darikwa
- 30Barnes
QPR
- 29Ingram
- 5Onuoha
- 4Hall
- 6Hill
- 42KpekawaBooked at 45mins
- 20Henry
- 18Faurlin
- 34PetrassoSubstituted forEl Khayatiat 70'minutes
- 23HoilettSubstituted forWashingtonat 63'minutes
- 7Phillips
- 33PolterBooked at 4minsSubstituted forGladwinat 71'minutes
Substitutes
- 9Washington
- 11Gladwin
- 13Lumley
- 19El Khayati
- 24Perch
- 35Prohouly
- 39Grego-Cox
- Referee:
- Jonathan Moss
- Attendance:
- 19,362
Match Stats
Home TeamBurnleyAway TeamQPR
- Possession
- Home50%
- Away50%
- Shots
- Home7
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away6
- Corners
- Home3
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away15
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Burnley 1, Queens Park Rangers 0.
Hand ball by George Boyd (Burnley).
Foul by Conor Washington (Queens Park Rangers).
Ben Mee (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stephen Ward (Burnley) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Conor Washington (Queens Park Rangers).
Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Sam Vokes.
Attempt blocked. Alejandro Faurlin (Queens Park Rangers) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Abdenasser El Khayati with a cross.
Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Ben Mee.
Attempt blocked. Conor Washington (Queens Park Rangers) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Abdenasser El Khayati.
Scott Arfield (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ben Gladwin (Queens Park Rangers).
Foul by Stephen Ward (Burnley).
Matt Ingram (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Burnley. Conceded by Matt Ingram.
Attempt saved. Scott Arfield (Burnley) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Sam Vokes.
Offside, Burnley. Ben Mee tries a through ball, but Ashley Barnes is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Burnley. Ashley Barnes replaces Andre Gray.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Ben Mee (Burnley) because of an injury.
Foul by Joey Barton (Burnley).
Abdenasser El Khayati (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Queens Park Rangers. Ben Gladwin replaces Sebastian Polter.
Substitution
Substitution, Queens Park Rangers. Abdenasser El Khayati replaces Michael Petrasso.
Alejandro Faurlin (Queens Park Rangers) hits the left post with a left footed shot from outside the box. Assisted by Michael Petrasso.
Foul by Scott Arfield (Burnley).
Michael Petrasso (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by George Boyd (Burnley).
Sebastian Polter (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Scott Arfield (Burnley).
Nedum Onuoha (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Queens Park Rangers. Conor Washington replaces Junior Hoilett.
Goal!
Goal! Burnley 1, Queens Park Rangers 0. Sam Vokes (Burnley) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by David Jones with a cross following a set piece situation.
Andre Gray (Burnley) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Clint Hill (Queens Park Rangers).
Attempt saved. Clint Hill (Queens Park Rangers) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Alejandro Faurlin with a cross.
Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Ben Mee.
Corner, Burnley. Conceded by Nedum Onuoha.
Joey Barton (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
