Are Burnley 'Doing A Leicester'? Why Winless Clarets Should Worry After Awful Season Start

What is Going on At Burnley This Season?!

The phrase 'doing a Leicester' used to represent achieving one of the greatest feats in English football history, as the Foxes wrote themselves into folklore by winning the 2015/16 Premier League despite being one of the favourites for relegation.

However, the term now could be used for something else entirely, and fans of Burnley FC could be worrying on whether they will end up replicating Leicester's back-to-back relegations from the Premier League down to League One, the third tier of English football after a poor start to the new EFL Championship season.

After eight matches so far in the second tier, the Clarets sit bottom of the table, with zero wins, and four points after four draws alongside four losses so far in the campagin.

Their latest clash, a home tie with fellow strugglers Derby County, saw Burnley on the verge of finally claiming their first three points of the season, however, a 93rd minute equaliser saw two crucial points slip away at Turf Moor as Burnley remained at the foot of the league.

Burnley remain bottom of the Championship after conceding this 90+3' minute equaliser 😱 pic.twitter.com/lauZrWwu2x

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) September 19, 2026

After relegation from the Premier League, the summer brought much change at Turf Moor. Belgian boss Nicky Hayen was appointed as Head Coach following a spell managing Genk, whilst big sales of star players occurred with Zian Flemming, Jaidon Anthony, Florentino and Maxime Esteve all leaving amongst more.

Despite many players leaving through the door, adding up to over £100 million in sales, only £15 million total fee was spent on new signings, with ex-Sheffield United defender Anel Ahmedhodžić joining, alongside Ugo Raghouber from LOSC Lille and Igor Julio from Brighton.

And perhaps that lack of investment back into the squad has contributed to Burnley having a disasterous beginning to the campaign, which has seen 17 goals conceded, the joint-most of any team so far in the EFL Championship, and are still awaiting their first win of the new season, with pressure already mounting on new boss Hayen.

The Clarets are the only side remaining in the EFL Champonship yet to taste victory, with their winless run streching all the way back to the 24th February, where Burnley beat Crystal Palace away from home at Selhurst Park in the Premier League.

The Departure of striker Flemming in particuarl created difficulity for the Clarets and angered Clarets supporters, the Dutch forward has impressed at Turf Moor during his two full seasons, socring 12 goals in the EFL Championship to help Scott Parker's side to promotion to the top tier, and scored a further 11 goals in the Premier League. An impressive number in a team that finished 19th in the table with just 22 points.

As the club's main forward and source of goals, hopes were high on Flemming to stay at the club and try and guide them back to the top flight at the first time of asking, with the Dutchman scoring a brace on the opening day of the season in a 2-2 draw with fellow relegated side West Ham United.

Zian Flemming has joined Ipswich Town in a permanent move for an undisclosed fee.

We would like to thank Zian for his efforts during his time in Lancashire.

— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) September 1, 2026

However, Flemming was sold by Burnley to newly-promoted Premier League team Ipswich Town on transfer deadline day, with Burnely not signing a replacement after the £20 million sale, leaving the Clarets without their star striker and without a ready-made replacement.

And without Flemming, Burnley have seen goals hard to come by, scoring nine in the opening eight matches, with only five teams scoring less. In an attempt to solve their goalscoring issues, Burnley signed Leicester City legend Jamie Vardy on a free transfer, fresh from returning from his spell in Italy with Cremonese. However at 39-years-old, Vardy is not the player he once was, and should not be relied upon in order for the goals to fly in at Turf Moor and beyond for Burnley.

The sales of star players, lack of quality replacements and poor results on the pitch has seen the mood at Turf Moor turn sour, and bordering on toxic. As once one of the most feared grounds to to go and one of the strongest defensive sides around has seen themselves become the leakiest defence in the EFL Championship.

Pressure is on Hayen, despite only being at the helm at Turf Moor for two months, but with the mood low and the club in desperate need of better results, the Belgian will need to turn things around fast to save his job.

Following the break, Burnley face Watford away from home, who are in a poor run of form themselves having lost four of their last five matches, before returning to Turf Moor to face Nathan Jones' Charlton Athletic. WHo despite a strong start that saw them near the top of the table in the opening weeks, has seen a drop-off in form and without a win in five matches.

These next two games present an oppotunity to get their season up and running and claim their first win of the season, which Hayen and Burnley is in dire need of as mood around Turf Moor threatens to reach an all-time low, with fears of repeating Leciester City's relegation to the third tier of English football steadily growing with whispers of 'doing a Leicester' running around the home of the Clarets.