Tella hat-trick earns Burnley 10th win in a row

Nathan Tella’s hat-trick saw runaway Championship leaders Burnley crush Lancashire rivals Preston North End as they continued their seemingly relentless march towards promotion with a 10th consecutive league win.

Tella’s 13th goal of the season followed 10 minutes after the break, the midfielder showing quick feet on the edge of the box to make room and fire in his fourth goal in two games.

His fifth in three arrived just three minutes later, the on-loan Southampton man running onto a long ball forward to blast the ball home for the first treble of his career.

Victories for promotion rivals Sheffield United, over Swansea, and Middlesbrough – away against Cardiff City – meant the Clarets were unable to extend their advantage at the top of the table, but with their 17-point gap to Boro in third place maintained, a Premier League return looks a formality.

Burnley have been in irresistible form in building that lead, not only sweeping aside all-comers in the league but also progressing into the fifth round of the FA Cup. And their confidence told in the early stages as Tella netted at the near post from Josh Brownhill’s inviting cross.

Only an excellent save from keeper Freddie Woodman stopped Ashley Barnes from making it 2-0 with a close-range header, as the hosts dominated possession and territory.

Barnes also headed over and an Anass Zaroury volley had to be kept out by Woodman.

A North End side without the attacking threat and nous of the suspended Ched Evans created very little in the first half, Alan Browne going closest with their only attempt – a scuffed left-footed strike from 20 yards that was well saved by keeper Arijanet Muric.

Preston had started the day just four points outside the play-off places but have been a model of inconsistency, with a dismal home record of just three wins all season in stark contrast to an envious run of eight away wins in 14 prior to the visit to Turf Moor.

However, they never looked capable of making it nine wins on the road against an increasingly comfortable home side.

Muric did have to be alert to clear a sloppy backpass, but Tella took advantage of some sloppy defending to make it 2-0 and the 23-year-old followed that up with the best goal of the game when he shifted the ball neatly on the edge of the box and shot home.

The lively Thomas Cannon offered Preston’s best hope of getting back into the game, notably when he teed up Browne, who made a hash of a good headed opportunity.

However, Kompany’s men were typically well-disciplined and barely troubled as they saw out their 10th win in a row, equalling a record set in 1913 and replicating Reading’s record of losing just two of their first 30 Championship matches from their title-winning season of 2005-06.