Burnley’s hat trick hero Andre Gray inspired a 4-0 victory over strugglers Bristol City to keep up the pace for automatic promotion.
The Clarets' and Championship top scorer took his season's tally to 13 for his club, with Scott Arfield also netting as the hosts recorded just their second win in nine games.
Burnley dominated the game straight from the off and Bristol showed evidence why they have only won twice in their last ten games.
They piled pressure onto the Championship strugglers as Andre Gray’s was denied by the post before Bristol City’s Elliot Bennett cleared the prolific striker’s low shot off the line.
Joey Barton was also denied by Bristol’s woodwork from 30 yards out and it only inevitable that Burnley were going to score.
Gray finally broke the deadlock on 37 minutes, spinning away from Aden Flint with a clever turn and keeping his composure to finish low across Fielding and into the bottom corner.
The Clarets striker then scored another on the stroke of half-time, turning in the area after David Jones' clever knock-down to slot in from close range and double the lead.
Bristol City improved in the second half, but lacked the quality to come back into the game. Scott Arfield punished City further after slotting home with 20 minutes to go.
Gray then took home the match ball with twelve minutes to go by tapping in from close range from Matthew Lowton’s cross. Burnley remain in fifth place in the Championship, however Bristol’s heavy defeat leaves them in the relegation zone on goal difference.
Football League World Writer, Ashley Williams looks at the THREE things learned from the game:
1) Have Burnley returned to their best?
Burnley have been on a torrid run up until this week. They have one of the strongest teams in the Championship and went six games without a win through November and part of December.
Many Burnley fans questioned their ambitions of achieving automatic promotion, but have certainly shown Premier League quality in their thrashing of Bristol City.
Sean Dyche revealed after the game that he gave the players a good talking to before the game and was looking for a reaction. Burnley showed signs against Bristol City that they have their confidence back from a few months ago.
2) Are Bristol City in a relegation scrap?
The Bristol City fans will be starting to panic as they could find themselves scrapping for vital points in order to remain in the Championship.
They are winless since their 2-1 victory over Huddersfield Town on the 12th December. Bristol are one of the lowest scorers in the division and has heavily relied on their strikers, Jonathan Kodjia and Aaron Wilbraham for goals. Steve Cotterill has pleaded with his players to chip in with some goals to help his side push out of the bottom three.
They face some tough games over the next few weeks and they need to find some form.
3) Will Andre Gray leave in January?
The striker has set the Championship on fire since his record fee move from Brentford in August. He is one of the best strikers in the Championship and Burnley are certainly preparing themselves for a substantial offer for the division’s top scorer.
Many Premier League sides have been linked with Gray’s services and he is rumoured to have a £15m price tag on his head, should someone wish to prise him away from Turf Moor.
With Burnley's next top scorer only scoring four this season, Dyche will be desperate to keep the former Brentford frontman.
Burnley and Bristol fans… What did you think of the game? Are Bristol in trouble? What did you make of Burnley’s performance compared to previous weeks? Let us know in your thoughts and opinions below!