Championship roundup: Burnley sparkle, Sheffield United settle for draw
London, Feb 4, 2023 (AFP) - Vincent Kompany saluted Championship leaders Burnley after a "complete performance" in their 3-0 win at Norwich on Saturday.
Norwich had won their two previous games in scintillating style under new coach David Wagner, but the Clarets blew them away to record a ninth successive league victory.
Anass Zaroury took advantage of a howler from Norwich goalkeeper Tim Krul to fire his side into an eighth-minute lead.
Two goals early in the second half from Vitinho and debutant Hjalmar Ekdal wrapped up the points for rampant Burnley.
Kompany's side are now just one victory away from equalling the Championship's record for successive wins.
"Norwich are a team I rate and after their two away wins it doesn't get much tougher in this division than playing them away," Kompany said.
"We knew what to expect but I thought it was a complete performance from the lads."
Paul Heckingbottom insisted Sheffield United's 0-0 draw at Rotherham was a positive result despite losing ground in the Championship title race.
The Blades are now seven points adrift of Burnley after they failed to make the breakthrough in the Yorkshire derby.
Heckingbottom's team are still well placed to return to the Premier League as they hold a 10-point lead over third-placed Middlesbrough.
"It was tough, for a 0-0 it was probably an entertaining one, it felt like that on the side," Heckingbottom said.
"We certainly have played worse than that and won games this season and we probably will do again, so I take it as a positive point."
Chuba Akpom's double helped seal a 3-0 win for Middlesbrough over second bottom Blackpool at the Riverside Stadium.
Dennis Cirkin's late header earned Sunderland a 1-1 draw at Millwall that kept both teams in the mix for the play-off places.
Fifth placed Watford threw away a two-goal lead in their 2-2 draw at Reading.
Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu's first goal since August 2021 earned fourth placed Luton a 1-0 win over Stoke at Kenilworth Road.