Middlesbrough 1-2 Burnley: The Clarets return to the Premier League after Barnes and Roberts goals

Burnley are back in the big time. Having dominated the Championship promotion race and led the table since October, it was always a matter of when and not if.

But for Vincent Kompany and his players, to get over the line against one of their strongest rivals in Middlesbrough was still hugely satisfying.

A poacher’s finish from Ashley Barnes early on was cancelled out by Chuba Akpom’s clinical penalty, but the golden goal that returned the Clarets to the Premier League at the first time of asking was provided by Connor Roberts.

He ghosted into the Boro box to score after Nathan Tella got the better of Jonny Howson on the Burnley right, applying the finish that pockets Burnley a £100m-plus windfall.

There was unfortunately an unsavoury moment as they celebrated the goal, with Johann Berg Gudmundsson struck by a missile thrown from the home section.

Connor Roberts celebrating his goal at Middlesbrough with Burnley team-mate Nathan Tella

The 2-1 away win takes Vincent Kompany’s Clarets back to the Premier League next season

This defeat coupled with Sheffield United’s win earlier leaves Boro – who tasted home league defeat for the first time under Michael Carrick – needing a miracle to go up automatically.

Kompany did sit down and watch the goalless draw between Millwall and Luton Town at lunchtime that nudged Burnley to the brink of the promised land.

His side tried a little power play before kick-off when they ran out onto Middlesbrough’s favoured side of the Riverside pitch and refused to budge for a good minute or two.

But when the action started, they initially looked far from assured with Ian Maatsen’s heavy touch presenting Aaron Ramsey with the ball. He fed Akpom in a dangerous position but the Championship’s leading marksman misplaced his pass.

The nerve-settling early goal Burnley craved was just around the corner, however. It stemmed from Anass Zaroury’s trickery on the left wing, beating Tommy Smith before cutting a pass back to Roberts.

He side-stepped a red shirt and played it square to Josh Brownhill, about 25 yards from goal. Burnley’s captain shot but it looked to be heading off target until Barnes stuck out a leg and diverted it home.

If VAR existed in the Championship it may well have decreed Barnes’ toenail was offside but no flag was raised and in one corner of the Riverside, 3,000 travelling fans bounced up and down in jubilation.

Burnley might have won a penalty shortly afterwards when Ramsey appeared to clip Brownhill as he entered the box. Referee Darren Bond only had one quick glance at it and deemed any contact insufficient, to the visible annoyance of Kompany.

Middlesbrough just couldn’t get into their stride and a hesitant defensive clearance by Paddy McNair was met with an equally indecisive strike by Zaroury.

But the visitors really should have doubled their lead – and made matters far more comfortable – when Tella sneaked in behind the dozing Darragh Lenihan and onto Barnes’ hopeful forward header.

Lenihan was the last man and knew he couldn’t bring Tella down, breathing a huge sigh of relief when the Southampton loanee uncharacteristically dragged his shot wide.

Ashley Barnes stuck out a leg to divert Burnley’s opener past Boro keeper Zack Steffen

Middlesbrough’s Chuba Akpom equalised for the hosts from the penalty spot after 48 minutes

Boro were straight on the attack after the restart and won a penalty when Josh Cullen clumsily bundled over Archer after keeper Arijanet Muric didn’t get enough purchase on a clearing punch.

Akpom made no mistake from 12 yards, scoring in a sixth consecutive game overall and a seventh straight at the Riverside, his 27th goal of the campaign.

Burnley tried to respond, with Barnes twisting his neck to meet Gudmundsson’s cross but steering his header off target.

They’d found a second wind, Roberts supplied the crucial goal and the gloom that accompanied their relegation 12 months ago was a distant memory.