"Big talent" Chelsea player scores as loan club make "remarkable" history under guidance of ex-Fulham boss
One of Chelsea’s loan players is enjoying a fine season in the Championship and has helped create history
Chelsea defender Bashir Humphreys helped loan club Burnley create a slice of Championship history on Wednesday night as the Clarets become the first second-tier side to keep 10-straight clean sheets.
The Turf Moor outfit, managed by former Fulham boss and ex-West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea player Scott Parker, have not conceded a league goal since beating Watford 2-1 on December 21.
They have drawn five games 0-0 since, while winning the other five without conceding a goal. In that 10-game run, Humphreys has started seven of those matches while coming off the bench in one and remaining as an unused substitute in the other two.
Humphreys impact against Hull City
On Wednesday night, Humphreys scored his first Championship goal since joining Burnley on loan as he found the net after just three minutes with a precise finish in 2-0 win over Hull City. Zian Flemming scored the second as Burnley maintained the pressure on Sheffield United and Leeds United in the top two spots.
Parker reflected: “It is remarkable and it is pretty special. It is something we are immensely proud of and it is not just the backline, it is the whole team. But we hold it with massive pride because it is pretty astonishing what we are doing right now currently as a group on the defensive phase.
“This is CJ (Egan-Riley)’s first full season, (Lucas) Pires came over from Spain and Bash (Humphreys) had a half a season at Swansea and to think what they are currently doing and the levels they are going to is remarkable. We looked every bit of a top team. I think it is fair to say that it is some of the best football we have seen and I have been seeing it in training and in our performances.”
Parker keeps promise to Humphreys
When Humphreys arrived at Burnley, Parker said he would be regularly relying on the defender. He said in August: “He’s a big talent, He had a loan last year in the Championship [with Swansea City] so he’s familiar with the league and he’s at a really good age.
“He’s got huge potential and ability but he’s one who we see is not one for development, as in not being around it, because he will certainly be in and around our squad. We feel he’s got the capability to play and push to be in this team, so he’s a very, very good signing in that sense. He’s very similar to some of the other signings in that he’s got big potential and he’s one we want to develop and move onto the next level.”
Humphreys has made 24 appearances for the Clarets since his loan move from Chelsea with Burnley three points behind Sheffield United in the second automatic promotion place. They are five points behind Leeds, who occupy top spot while Sunderland in fourth are two points adrift of Burnley. They are 14 games remaining in the Championship before the play-offs, something Humphreys could be involved in if Burnley are unable to catch the top two.