Stoke City boss Alex Neil makes confident prediction on Burnley | OneFootball

Stoke City manager Alex Neil believes Burnley will secure a top-two spot at the end of the season following a superb first half of the campaign, speaking to the Potters’ media team after the two sides’ clash.

The Clarets were made to battle for their victory at the bet365 Stadium last night – but came out on top in the end with Josh Cullen’s 61st-minute strike separating the two teams following an admirable display from the hosts who were unlucky not to win something from the game.

That victory has taken them 14 points clear of Blackburn Rovers who still sit in third place at this stage despite their loss against Middlesbrough on Thursday evening.

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And their current position, sitting at the top of the Championship table, will delight owner Alan Pace who took a gamble in the summer when he gave manager Vincent Kompany the license to rebuild the squad, selling a few key players in the process.

However, Pace and Kompany will know that their job isn’t done just yet with 21 league games left to play.

This back to the top flight, even though his team managed to compete well with the Clarets yesterday evening.

The Verdict:

It does seem as though the Lancashire side are on their way back to the top level and there are a number of reasons for this apart from the fact they sit 14 points above third place.

Firstly, their character has to be commended because they have come from behind on several occasions this season to take three points and that can only bode well for them for the remainder of the campaign.

Secondly, they have shown different sides of their game, with their battling spirit against the Potters paying off for them. This is a promising sign in their quest to win different types of games from now until the end of this term.

Thirdly, they have the depth to ensure their season isn’t derailed if a few injuries occur. And that’s an advantage they have over most other sides in the division, potentially allowing them to pull away from the play-off chasing teams.

And finally, they have a very talented manager who looks set to go on and be a real success in management, with the ex-Manchester City defender already proving his worth on the touchline.