There were two potentially important matches at the bottom of the Premier League table in the 3pm BST fixtures in the top flight on Saturday.
Burnley aimed to keep their slim hopes of achieving safety alive against the only side below them in the table, Sheffield United, whose chances of avoiding relegation were all but over.
Luton Town, who started the day a point behind fourth-bottom Nottingham Forest, hosted Brentford.
The Bees began on a four-game unbeaten run and knew that victory would move them well clear of danger.
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Luton v Brentford: Goals galore for visitors
Having won 2-0 at home to Sheffield United a week earlier, Brentford bossed the early stages at Kenilworth Road and took a deserved lead through Yoane Wissa’s sublime curler.
Bryan Mbeumo hit the crossbar with a shot before sending in a routine cross which Luton made a hash of dealing with, allowing Wissa to tap in before a VAR (Video Assistant Referee) check confirmed the goal.
Luton held out for 17 minutes after the break until Ethan Pinnock headed in Brentford’s third from a corner.
Keane Lewis-Potter tapped in Mbeumo’s pass two minutes later to put Brentford out of sight.
Super Brentford FC. pic.twitter.com/bBe7M2FY7v
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) April 20, 2024
Kevin Schade then swept in his first goal since August from close range to make it 5-0, and Luke Berry added a consolation in added time for the hammered Hatters.
Sheffield United v Burnley: Blades blunted
Marooned seven points behind Burnley, the Blades conceded a typically calamitous opening goal when Jacob Bruun Larsen’s unthreatening cross was deflected past home goalkeeper Ivo Grbic.
Visiting goalkeeper Arijanet Muric, whose farcical error gifted Brighton & Hove Albion a point at Turf Moor a week ago, made several good saves, including heroics to deny Ben Brereton Diaz.
The points are ours! 🥳 pic.twitter.com/PWICjFlLcy
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) April 20, 2024
Burnley, though, were well on their way to a second win in 16 games through Lorenz Assignon’s strike, with the opposition defence reacting weakly again.
Gustavo Hamer hit a splendid reply seven minutes after half-time but Lyle Foster scored Burnley’s third from Assignon’s pass six minutes later and Johann Gudmundsson, who later hit the woodwork, netted with his first touch to make it 4-1 in the 71st minute.
The Clarets finished the game three points from safety with three games to play, although they have fewer matches remaining than the teams above them and a vastly inferior goal difference.
