Analysis: Big questions as the drop loomspublished at 17:01 BST
17:01 BST
Nick Mashiter Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Burnley are set to be relegated - it is just a question of when - after this second-half surrender.
The Clarets have lost 45 of their last 71 games over their past two seasons in the Premier League and look about to be instantly relegated for a third time following promotion.
Despite going ahead with Zian Flemming's goal right on half-time, they failed to capitalise on the anxiety around the City Ground with a subdued Nottingham Forest jeered off at the break.
Forest had previously scored just three goals in eight and a half league games at home yet they then netted four in 45 minutes against the Clarets.
Scott Parker's side folded, even with Forest nowhere near their best, and there looks to be no way back. Relegation could come as early as Wednesday.
The biggest question for the Clarets now is, if they are relegated and again make an immediate return from the Championship, how do they finally consolidate their place in the Premier League?
After all, not so long ago they spent six straight seasons - and qualified for Europe - in the top flight under Sean Dyche.
Nottingham Forest 4-1 Burnley: What Parker saidpublished at 16:51 BST
16:51 BST
Media caption,
It wasn't about tactics this afternoon - Parker
Burnley boss Scott Parker, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "For an hour we were very good, very disciplined. We got our noses in front and it carried on in to the second half. The game changes on their goal, in that moment we give up two or three sloppy goals and lost our way. The inconsistencies have been paramount at times and you can see that today.
"[After conceding the first] it's not about tactics, it's about digging through the next bit and trying to get a foothold again. We didn't do that, in fact the opposite happened and we concede four. It is poor.
"The team have got scars and I understand that because it has been a long season. What you've seen today has been a replica of other games. You can see at times that is weighting heavy, particularly when we conceded. Senior players need to step up.
"I am never going to criticise our general work ethic and desire. Where we have fallen short is quality. We will keep going.
"It is a difficult period now, but it's about individuals, who you want to be and how you want to see out these last games. How we end this season will be key."
Did you know?
Burnley have lost more than 20 games in a league campaign (21) for the fourth time this century, also doing so in the Premier League in 2009-10 and 2023-24 (24 in both), and in the second tier in 2002-03 (21).
Only Erling Haaland and Igor Thiago (both 9) have scored more away goals in the Premier League this season than Burnley's Zian Flemming, with eight of his nine total goals in the competition coming on the road.
Among all players to score more than five Premier League goals, none have scored a greater proportion of their total in away games than Flemming (89% - 8/9, same as Marc Guehi).
Sutton's predictions: Nottingham Forest v Burnleypublished at 10:05 BST
10:05 BST
This is Nottingham Forest's biggest game of the season.
It's a great chance for them to get three points, but gosh this is going to be nervy - it is going to be a very tense afternoon but they just have to find a way to win, it doesn't matter how.
Burnley are done now, they are going down - but that might not help Forest because it could see Scott Parker's side play with more freedom.
Follow Sunday's Premier League games livepublished at 10:04 BST
10:04 BST
There are four games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.
Aston Villa v Sunderland
Everton v Liverpool
Nottingham Forest v Burnley
Man City v Arsenal (16:30 BST)
Kick-off times 14:00 BST unless stated
Follow all of the action and reaction to the early games here and the late match here
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Everton v Liverpool" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Man City v Arsenal", for instance.
Heckingbottom lays into his Preston players published at 20:57 BST 18 April
20:57 BST 18 April
Image source, Shutterstock
Image caption,
Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom
Paul Heckingbottom laid into his Preston players after their 2-0 home loss to West Brom, claiming their display was unacceptable.
Heckingbottom felt his side were out-fought by West Brom at Deepdale as they saw their four-game unbeaten run end in miserable circumstances.
He told BBC Radio Lancashire: "The better team won. They out-fought us in the first half, I don't often say that. That was one of the two disappointing facts. The fact they out-fought us in the first half and the fact that everything we prepared for, we just didn't execute.
"Sometimes if you don't give them the solutions, you are culpable. But we knew what we were going to face and we showed them at half-time what we were getting wrong and for some reason, we didn't do it any better.
"We were better in the second half and we did OK until they scored their second goal. That was another poor goal from our point of view and we can have no complaints.
"So, yeah, a disappointing day, one of the worst.
"If you get out-fought, that can't happen. You can get beat, but not like that. I expect us to turn up and compete."
Nottingham Forest v Burnley: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 13:02 BST 18 April
13:02 BST 18 April
Nottingham Forest's elation at reaching a first European semi-final since 1984 will be short-lived if they don't follow it by putting points on the board against second-bottom Burnley at the City Ground on Sunday (14:00 GMT).
Forest could yet be felled
Vitor Pereira's side set up an all-English Europa League last four clash against Aston Villa with a tense 1-0 win over Porto on Thursday – the Portuguese head coach's first home win in six attempts since he was appointed on 15 February.
The prospect of relegation on the domestic front, however, is still a very real one. The Reds, currently 16th, could find themselves in the relegation zone by Sunday night if they lose and West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur both win.
An impotent Forest attack has registered just 14 goals in 16 home league games this season, failing to find the net in five of their last seven. It's their lowest goals-per-game record at home (0.88) in a league season since 1996-97 (0.79).
Elliot Anderson missed the win over Porto due to the death of his mother, Helen, and it remains to be seen if the England star will be available for selection. Pereira told reporters after the game: "We are here to help him and we will see if he can play the next game."
The Tricky Trees, who are unbeaten in six in all competitions, could do with his industry in midfield in a game like this. Anderson has won possession 10 or more times in 10 Premier League games this season; the most in Europe's big five leagues in 2025-26 and more than three times as often as any of his opponents in this country.
Clarets sinking
With just one win in their past 23 league games – against Crystal Palace on 11 February – it has been a miserable campaign for Burnley.
The Clarets, facing their third relegation from the top flight in five seasons, are this decade's best example of a Premier League yo-yo club; too good for the Championship but unable to cut it in the top tier.
Unlike bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers, 19th-placed Burnley's relegation cannot be confirmed this weekend and head coach Scott Parker has pledged that his team will "keep fighting between now and the end of the season".
They've conceded 63 goals, the most in the division, which is perhaps no surprise when you look at some of their related defensive numbers.
Twinned with those defensive struggles has been a similarly tough time in front of goal. While they aren't the lowest scorers in the league – Wolves and Forest are both worse off in that regard – Burnley have managed the fewest shots of any side, with 297 (an average of 9.3 per game).
Among teams to have played 30 or more games under a single manager since such records began in 2003-04, Scott Parker's Burnley have had the joint-fewest attempts of any team under one boss, along with Paul Clement's Swansea City and Chris Wilder's Sheffield United.
Parker on team news, offside goals and relegation battlepublished at 15:02 BST 17 April
15:02 BST 17 April
Ella Gibbs BBC Sport journalist
Media caption,
Burnley boss Scott Parker has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Nottingham Forest at The City Ground (kick-off 14:00).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
The Burnley boss delivered an update on his team: "Josh Laurent is back, Hannibal Mejbri is edging closer but will miss this weekend, heading towards Leeds is a better option. Connor Roberts is still not available. Zeki Amdouni is moving in the right direction but we'll have to make a call on that."
Parker acknowledged the two offside decisions in their defeat by Brighton and Hove Albion: "What can you say to that, if it's an offside, it's an offside. Disappointing and frustrating of course when you have two goals disallowed on the finest of margins. It was a hard one to take but factually it's an offside."
The Clarets head coach said he will be "prepared" to face Nottingham Forest on Sunday: "We understand the dynamics of the game and what the game is going to bring. There is something on the game for both teams in terms of the predicament that both teams are facing. First and foremost, we need to be prepared for what we are going to face here and hopefully bring our quality and tactics into the game."
Parker spoke on the possibility of relegation: "We understand the situation we are in and the challenge that we face and it's an absolutely massive one. I'm the biggest realist and as honest as they come."
He added: "The last four or five games have been must-win games, which we've not been able to do and those games are running out for us. We have to keep learning from our experiences, and learning from each game. I know that can be seen as fluffy but that's where we are."
Parker said he was "relaxed" about his contract ending next year, adding: "My focus is trying to get the best out of the group and my situation is mine and is not something I think about at this moment in time. Those conversations will take place in due course."
He said managing players that aren't used to losing has been difficult: "It is what it is, we are where we are, we brought in players and we are working with them. It's been difficult on the mental side, players aren't used to losing games from where they might have come from."
The boss continued: "The challenge goes up tenfold when you step up into the Premier League. It's a man-v-man game, that's the way the game has gone. The dynamics of the game have changed."
Image source, Getty Images
