The most relieved man in the stadium was Jordan Beyer.
Sunderland thought they had stolen three points from Turf Moor when Jack Clarke’s cross crept under Arijanet Muric and nestled in the bottom far corner after 84 minutes. Within an instant, the offside flag was raised, correctly. Abdoullah Ba had been standing in front of the Burnley goalkeeper, blocking his view.
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Beyer puffed out his cheeks and returned to his position. Moments earlier, under little pressure, the centre-back, in attempting to play a simple pass to centre-back partner Taylor Harwood-Bellis, had inadvertently passed it straight out for a corner.
It was a rare error from the on-loan Borussia Monchengladbach centre-back, an uncharacteristic lapse in concentration from one of Burnley’s most consistent performers all season.
Following Beyer’s error, Harwood-Bellis was the first over to his team-mate to provide words of encouragement. There would be no further scares and the pair led Burnley to their 17th clean sheet of the season, joint-highest with Coventry City, in a 0-0.
It was the first time Kompany was able to field the pair together since Harwood-Bellis, the on-loan Manchester City youngster, suffered a foot injury in the FA Cup tie against Bournemouth in early January. It came just as they had established themselves as one of the best central defensive pairings in the league.
After the latter stepped up his rehabilitation during the recent international break, building match fitness with the under-21s, Kompany returned to his most reliable duo.
There were a few tricky moments in possession as Burnley faced an aggressive, well-executed high-press from Sunderland, which limited the pair’s influence in possession. Overall though, it looked like they had never been apart as they recorded their eighth clean sheet together.
The only problem is that supporters may only see them in action eight more times with both on season-long loans.
But can Burnley bring both of them back next season?
During the first week of the international break, Kompany and his coaching staff sat down to map out a plan for the summer and next season. While they have a plan if their promotion bid fails, it is a return to the top flight they are pushing on with.
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Pre-season possibilities and tactical and development reviews were discussed, but the shaping of the squad formed an important part of the agenda.
The central defensive situation will have been towards the top of the priority list.
January’s recruitment has eased the pressure. Deals for Hjalmar Ekdal and Ameen Al-Dakhil provided depth in an area that could have looked barren. Both have impressed, with Ekdal predominantly partnering Beyer in Harwood-Bellis’ absence and keeping five league clean sheets with the German.
When Burnley profile centre-backs, they look for on-the-ball quality alongside defensive solidity. Passing range and the confidence to try to progress the ball are vital in helping them function as an attacking force.
Beyer’s ability to step out from the back and Harwood-Bellis’ range of passing fit that perfectly.
Retaining Beyer should be the easier task. As The Athletic reported when he arrived in August, an option to buy was included in the loan deal agreed with Monchengladbach.
The value remains undisclosed, although the fee at the time was described by one source, who wished to remain anonymous to protect their relationship with the club, as “unrealistic”.
Still, Burnley are in the driving seat if they wish to activate it, with the cash injection from promotion providing money to spend.
The 22-year-old has earned the ‘Rolls Royce’ tag because of his consistent displays. He has excelled in his debut season in England, never overawed by the physicality, he looks ready for the step up to the Premier League.
Trying to convince Harwood-Bellis and City should be an easy sell. Before his injury, the 21-year-old had been a standout performer for Kompany and the Belgian’s style has drawn comparisons to Pep Guardiola’s and has been perfect for his development.
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The pair’s relationship dates back to their time at City when Harwood-Bellis was rising through the youth ranks and Kompany was first team captain. The young defender has made notable strides while working under one of the best modern-day centre-backs.
The England under-21 international has formed a strong connection with the club. Despite the length of his injury, he remained at Burnley’s training ground throughout for rehabilitation, attending home games and geeing up the crowd after victories.
Harwood-Bellis, like fellow City Championship loanees James McAtee and Tommy Doyle, is unlikely to have a significant role in Guardiola’s squad next season. City’s senior centre-back list includes Aymeric Laporte, Ruben Dias, John Stones, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji.
If they are convinced Harwood-Bellis has a long-term future, the next stage of his development should naturally be to make the step up and prove himself at Premier League level.
The defender only has one year remaining on his contract. Unless that is resolved, it could force City into a sale and the price would likely dictate Burnley’s interest.
If a new deal was agreed, another loan move would be likely and Burnley would be at the front of the queue.
A significant summer awaits. Both centre-backs have proven themselves to be too good for the Championship. It remains to be seen if Turf Moor is where they have the chance to show if they can make the step up to the Premier League.
(Main image: Beyer has excelled since his move to Turf Moor from Germany. Photo: Dave Howarth – CameraSport via Getty Images)