Through the end of February amidst the 2024/25 season, Burnley sport one of the best defensive records not just in the Championship, not just in England, but across the entire European continent.
Having conceded just nine goals through the first 34 games of the league season, goalkeeper James Trafford and his defence have stifled opponents.
Burnley boss Scott Parker seems to have learned from the mistakes of his early managerial days to set the side up brilliantly. In the 2018/19 campaign, Parker’s first as a manager at senior level, his Fulham side shipped 81 goals, the most in the Premier League that season.
Now, the Clarets are on the verge of making history. The Sporting News breaks down where Burnley stand in the larger historical record, and how minority owner J.J. Watt may be sweating out the rest of the season as a result.
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What is the record for most clean sheets in a row?
With 12 consecutive clean sheets, Burnley have already set the EFL record and are now targeting the all-time English football record.
According to Opta, the most consecutive clean sheets by a club in English football is the 14 in a row by Manchester United who went from November 15, 2008 to February 18, 2009 without conceding a single goal. They won 12 of those 14 games, with two scoreless draws. Roque Santa Cruz was the first player to break the streak, as he scored what proved to be a consolation goal for Blackburn Rovers in a 2-1 defeat.
Burnley are nearly there, with the streak beginning on Boxing Day against Sheffield United and still active as of the 4-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday on February 21. If they get through their next game against Cardiff City, the Clarets equal the record against Luton Town on March 8, with the potential to set a new mark against West Brom on March 11.
| Club | Clean Sheets | Season | League (Tier) |
| Man United | 14 | 2008/09 | Premier League (1) |
| Burnley | 12 | 2024/25 | Championship (2) |
| Reading | 11 | 1978/79 | Division Four (4) |
| York City | 11 | 1973/74 | Division Three (3) |
| Millwall | 11 | 1925/26 | Division Three (3) |
| Chelsea | 10 | 2004/05 | Premier League (1) |
| Torquay | 10 | 2009/10 & 2010/11 | League Two (4) |
| Charlton Athletic | 10 | 1997/98 & 1998/99 | Premier League/Championship (1/2) |
Most clean sheets in an English league season
Even if Burnley falter in their bid for a new record for consecutive clean sheets, they can still set a new benchmark for the most shutouts in one English league season.
They are on 25 to date, meaning they need another six in their remaining 12 matches to surpass Port Vale’s long-standing tally of 30.
| Club | Clean Sheets | Season | League (Tier) |
| Port Vale | 30 | 1953/54 | Division Three (3) |
| Gillingham | 29 | 1995/96 | Division Three (4) |
| Liverpool | 28 | 1978/79 | Division One (1) |
| Middlesbrough | 27 | 1986/87 | Division Three (3) |
| Wigan Athetic | 27 | 2017/18 | League One (3) |
| Plymouth Argyle | 27 | 2001/02 | Division Three (4) |
Fewest goals conceded in a Championship season
Burnley have ridden a smothering defensive record to a promotion position in the Championship.
Incredibly, the club has conceded just NINE goals all season long through 34 games, which has them third in the table and in the hunt for an automatic promotion spot.
It puts the Clarets on pace to concede just 12 total goals for the entire season, which would obliterate the league record. As it stands, the fewest goals conceded in a Championship season was 30, done twice, once by Watford and also by Preston North End.
| Club | Season | Goals conceded |
| Watford | 2020/21 | 30 |
| Preston | 2005/06 | 30 |
| Middlesbrough | 2015/16 | 31 |
| QPR | 2010/11 | 32 |
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