EPL: Parker's Pride — Burnley Coach Hails Team's Fighting Spirit Despite Loss

Burnley's comeback bid ends in heartbreak for Scott Parker as Brentford win 4-3

Burnley coach Scott Parker praises team's fighting spirit after 4-3 loss to Brentford, with Mikkel Damsgaard scoring winner.

Brentford edge Burnley 4-3, with Damsgaard's second-half strike securing victory...

Burnley coach Scott Parker is praising his team's spirit after they fought back from 3-0 down to level the score, but ultimately lost 4-3 to Brentford. Parker said, “The fight and the spirit was incredible... I'm proud of this team, and I'm probably more sad than frustrated that the players weren't rewarded for their efforts in the end.”

Burnley, who are fighting relegation, had held strong teams like Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelsea since January. However, their loss leaves them eight points below the safety zone, making their battle to stay in the Premier League even tougher.

Burnley's third loss in five games has left them eight points below the safety zone, while Brentford, currently seventh, is just five points away from securing a top-four spot. This comes after Brentford's 4-3 win over Burnley, with Mikkel Damsgaard scoring the winning goal.

“The fight and ⁠the spirit was incredible... ‌I’m proud of this team, and I’m probably more sad than frustrated that the players weren't rewarded for their efforts in the end,” Parker said.

Brentford was cruising to victory with a 3-0 lead in just 34 minutes, thanks to goals from Mikkel Damsgaard, Igor Thiago, and Kevin Schade. But Michael Kayode's own goal just before halftime gave Burnley hope.

Burnley's fightback continued in the second half, with Hannibal Mejbri setting up Jaidon Anthony and Zian Flemming to level the score at 3-3. The drama didn't end there, as Damsgaard scored again in the 93rd minute to secure a thrilling 4-3 win for Brentford.

Dramatic scenes continued as Zian Flemming thought he'd won it for Burnley, but VAR ruled him offside. Then, Ashley Barnes leveled late, but it was disallowed due to handball. In the end, Damsgaard's 93rd-minute strike stood, securing a 4-3 win for Brentford. 

“We changed things tactically, and it worked, but were cruelly denied on a couple of occasions, and we didn’t get what we deserved from the game,” said former England midfielder Parker, ‌who led Burnley to the English top-flight in his first season in charge.

Scott and Zian share their post-match thoughts 🗣️

— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) February 28, 2026

“It takes a certain type of player ‌to come out and show the spirit and stand up to the challenge and the atmosphere that we had in front of us at half-time.”

Burnley is heading to Everton on Tuesday, looking to bounce back from their 4-3 loss to Brentford on Saturday. Coach Scott Parker will be hoping his team can turn things around, especially given their current relegation battle. They're currently 19th in the Premier League standings with 19 points, eight points below the safety zone.