Championship leaders Burnley claimed a sixth straight Championship victory as on-loan Chelsea fullback Ian Maatsen’s spectacular first-half double secured a 2-1 win at Swansea City.
Maatsen’s early free-kick put Burnley ahead and he doubled the lead with a drive from outside the box.
Ollie Cooper quickly pulled a goal back for a Swansea side who had some good spells.
But Burnley held on relatively comfortably in a second half where they missed chances to extend their lead.
Their latest triumph – it is now 10 in their 11 league matches – saw Vincent Kompany’s team move six points clear at the top, with second-placed Sheffield United playing later.
More significantly, perhaps, the gap to third-placed Blackburn is 14 points.
Kompany later said: “We started the first half extremely well, recovered a lot of balls and created moments, chances, in transition.
“Then, for 20-25 minutes first half, they were on top of us. They were better. They changed it as Swansea do. If you get a hold of them, they change it around and move positions.
“We were not able to get the same pressure on them and if Swansea have time on the ball, they are going to hurt you. Second half, I thought, was an even game. We got a press on in the second half and we had the better chances.
“We burnt up a lot of energy in the wrong way in the first half. But in the second half we just went again. That’s the strength of this team – when you think they are about to bend and break, they go again.”
