Burnley's failure to win a home Championship league match in over a year took centre stage on the latest edition of the BBC's EFL: 72+ Podcast, with pundits and guests picking apart exactly where things have gone so badly wrong for the Clarets at Turf Moor.

A year without a home win

Burnley's home record has become one of the most alarming storylines in the Championship this season. According to the podcast, the club have not won a league game on their own ground for an entire calendar year, a run that raises serious questions about the threat of consecutive relegations. Presenter Aaron Paul, alongside Jobi McAnuff and guest Lyle Taylor, examined the root causes behind the slump, which has accelerated since the dismissal of Scott Hayen earlier this month after just 14 games in charge.

The Clarets find themselves in a deeply uncomfortable position. Without a permanent manager in place and supporters increasingly restless, the atmosphere around the club is one of mounting anxiety rather than cautious optimism. The managerial search is ongoing, and each passing week without a home win only piles further pressure on whoever eventually takes the job.

Taylor, who has experience of the sharp end of the second tier, suggested the problems at Turf Moor go beyond tactics or personnel alone. Questions of confidence, identity and recruitment were all raised as potential factors in a slump that few could have predicted when Burnley dropped into the Championship.

Sharp reflects on an EFL career like no other

The episode also offered a fond and frank farewell to one of the division's all-time greats. Sheffield United legend Billy Sharp joined the podcast following his retirement after a 22-year professional career, the vast majority of it spent cutting defences apart in the EFL.

Sharp, who is widely regarded as one of the most prolific scorers the second and third tiers have ever seen, reflected on what made him such a reliable goalscorer across so many clubs and so many seasons. He spoke about the instincts, the movement and the mentality that kept him finding the net long after many contemporaries had faded, as well as the moment he knew it was time to hang up his boots.

His association with Sheffield United runs particularly deep. Sharp made multiple stints at Bramall Lane across his career, becoming a fan favourite who came to embody the club's identity. His retirement, reported here earlier this month, drew widespread tributes from across the football world, and the podcast gave him the chance to tell that story in his own words.

For Sheffield United supporters, hearing Sharp reminisce about what the club and the EFL meant to him will have been a welcome reminder of happier times, even as the Blades navigate their own difficult Championship campaign under Chris Wilder.

Wider EFL picture

Beyond the two Championship clubs in focus, the podcast also touched on difficult spells for Derby County and Norwich City, both of whom have been inconsistent in the second tier. The discussion underlined just how competitive and unforgiving the Championship remains, with margins between comfort and crisis remaining razor-thin throughout the division.

For Burnley, the immediate priority is obvious: arrest a home record that has become a genuine threat to their Championship status. For Sheffield United, the wider conversation about Sharp's legacy serves as a reminder of what the club can be at its best, and what Wilder and his squad will be working to restore.

The full episode is available on BBC Sounds.

Frequently asked

How long have Burnley gone without a home league win?
According to the BBC's EFL podcast, Burnley have not won a home league match for an entire year, making it one of the most troubling runs of form in the Championship this season.
Has Billy Sharp officially retired from football?
Yes. Billy Sharp announced his retirement after a 22-year professional career, the majority of which was spent in the EFL. He discussed his decision on the BBC's EFL: 72+ Podcast.
What is being said about Burnley's manager search?
Burnley are still searching for a permanent manager following the sacking of Scott Hayen. The club's ongoing home struggles make the appointment an increasingly urgent priority.