MICHAEL CARRICK was quick to praise Burnley’s achievements after the Clarets confirmed their promotion back to the Premier League with seven games still to go at the Riverside last night.

Burnley confirmed their return to the top-flight at the first time of asking after last season’s relegation as they triumphed on Teesside.

Ashley Barnes’ first-half opener set the Clarets on their way on Teesside, and while Chuba Akpom’s penalty briefly restored parity, the visitors’ win was secured when Connor Roberts converted Nathan Tella’s cross midway through the second half.

Burnley’s achievement in winning promotion with seven games to spare means they have emulated Jack Charlton’s Middlesbrough title winners in the 1973-74 season, with no other winners of the second tier having been similarly successful in the intervening period.

Carrick hailed Burnley’s achievement in the wake of last night’s game, even if he did not feel his players deserved to be beaten.

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The Boro boss said: “Fair play to them, they’ve had a terrific season, they really have. It’s not easy when you’ve come down to go straight back up, and they’ve changed a fair bit.

“Fair play to Vincent and his staff – they’ve deserved that for their performances over a period of time. If you go up at this stage of the season, and you’re top of the league, then you deserve it.

“We respect that, and that’s why I’m so proud of the players for the way in which they played against a team that have done ever so well all season. I was pleased with the players for playing like we did – I genuinely didn’t think we deserved to lose the game with the way that we played.”

Boro’s defeat means they are now nine points adrift of second-placed Sheffield United, having played one game more than the Blades, ahead of Monday’s trip to Ashton Gate to take on Bristol City.