Burnley surges to 4th place after late Stoke winner

Burnley reached the astronomical heights of fourth place in the Premier League after Ashley Barnes' late winner Tuesday against Stoke City earned the Clarets a sixth 1-0 win this season.

Despite scoring fewer goals (16) than games played (17), Sean Dyche's side has now surged ahead of Liverpool, Arsenal, and Tottenham in the standings thanks to tidy, defensive football.

A pre-season favourite to be relegated by many bookkeepers, Burnley's ascent has been both unexpected and refreshing. The club stuck with Dyche when it was relegated from the Premier League in 2014-15, and tasked him with the objective of returning.

He's done that - and more.

"The game was as ugly as the weather, but it's one of the most pleasing results of the season," an elated Dyche told reporters afterward at Turf Moor.

It's the first time Burnley has occupied fourth place since March 1975.

A lot of the club's success is down to results at home, where Burnley has lost just twice this season. Tuesday's victory was also its sixth clean sheet in Lancashire.

Dyche's men had just two shots on target in this match, but Barnes emerged in the 89th minute and walloped a loose ball on the edge of the area to steal all three points.

Burnley's hold on a Champions League spot may, however, only be brief. Liverpool and Arsenal can leapfrog the Premier League's surprise package with wins on Wednesday against West Brom and West Ham, respectively.