"Nuts" - Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer react to Scott Parker exploits at Burnley FC | OneFootball

The Clarets have been way better than any other Championship side in one particular area.

Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer have heaped praise on Scott Parker's Burnley side following their promotion to the Premier League.

Even before the events of Easter Monday, the widely held view was that Burnley and Leeds United would be the two clubs to secure automatic promotion from the Championship this season.

They both essentially needed one win from their remaining three games to make it near impossible for Sheffield United to catch them. Leeds took care of their business with a 6-0 win over Stoke City in the 3pm kick-offs, and Burnley finished the job later with a 2-1 win over Chris Wilder's Blades.

Now both sides are set to return to what has been hailed as the promised land, although the Clarets and the other five promoted sides from the past two campaigns will tell you it's not always all it's cracked up to be up their at the top table.

Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer heap praise on Burnley's incredible defence

While Leeds continued their theme of last season, overawing their opponents with attacking might, especially at home, the Clarets' path to promotion was laid down at the other end of the pitch. They are well on track to be the best defensive side in Championship history.

Both Lineker and Shearer have been amazed by how good the claret and blue side have been at the back since arriving back in the Championship. "Their record this season under Scott Parker has been pretty impressive, particularly of late," the Match of the Day presenter said on the Rest Is Football podcast.

"Conceded just 15 goals in 44 games, kept 29 clean sheets, haven’t conceded more than one goal in any game.

"I mean, that is nuts. And unbeaten in the last 31 games and now back in the Premier League, and then they’ll be craving the Championship again within three, four months, probably. That’s the nature of it now, but hopefully not."

Shearer added: "Yeah, what a job Scott Parker has done, eh? Unbelievable that is. I mean, those stats are ridiculous."

Burnley must focus on maintaining their defensive strength this summer

The Clarets are going to struggle to hold onto all the pieces that have made their defence so good this season. Maxime Esteve and James Trafford - two of the Championship's best players this season - are already attracting interest from top-tier clubs like Everton and Newcastle United, respectively.

Promoted teams that have managed to stay in the Premier League, of late, haven't been overly ambitious with their tactics. They have generally been more focused on being defensively solid and efficient in the final third. Losing key cogs like Esteve and Trafford will make that first job much harder.