U21 REPORT: CREWE ALEXANDRA 0-0 BURNLEY

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Clarets take point away against Railwaymen with first clean sheet of campaign

2022-09-26T15:08:17.909Z

U21 REPORT: CREWE ALEXANDRA 0-0 BURNLEY

Clarets take point away against Railwaymen with first clean sheet of campaign

2022-09-26T15:08:17.909Z

Clarets take point away against Railwaymen with first clean sheet of campaign

Burnley’s U21 side earned a point away against Crewe Alexandra with, making it four games unbeaten in the Professional Development League and picking up a first clean sheet of the season.

After a testing first half adjusting to the conditions at the Reaseheath Training Ground in Nantwich, the Clarets dominated proceedings in the second 45 minutes but couldn’t find a way through a stubborn Crewe backline.

It was a much-changed Burnley side from last Friday’s 3-1 defeat at home to Arsenal in the Premier League Cup, with only five players who started that game in the 11 against the Railwaymen.

Sam Waller returned in goal with Alex Healy-Byrne and Benn Ward in front of him alongside a Trialist. Will Hugill also returned while U18 Brad Grant started in his first U21 appearance.

With 16-year-old goalkeeper Jon Ander Vilar Robinson, centre back Nathan James and striker Joe Westley also named on the bench, a total of five U18s were involved in the U21s squad.

First Half

It was one of the youngsters in Joe Bauress, who at 16 has been a permanent fixture in the U21s side so far this term, that had the first opportunity of the game in Cheshire.

Spotting Crewe ‘keeper David Richards off his line, the midfielder took aim from the halfway line and had Richards scrambling but saw his effort drop narrowly over the bar.

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Mark Helm and Healy-Byrne then combined well to allow Marcel Lewis space for a shot of his own, but the winger could only curl over on 12 minutes.

At the other end, Waller made a smart stop with his feet to deny Joel Tabiner before Lachlan Brook cracked an effort off the underside of the crossbar having broken into the Burnley box.

Dodgson was the next to go close to an opener, seeing Richards tip his free-kick around the post, while just after the half-hour mark, Michael Mellon was slipped in behind by Helm but guided his strike over the bar.

Full back Dodgson then came close oncemore before the break, teed up by Grant and sending a shot inches wide while Mellon did the same 60 seconds later.

And in the last big chance of the half, Lewis saw Richards deny him with an acrobatic save, tipping his dipping shot over the bar.

Second Half

Midfielder Hugill surged into the Railwaymen’s box shortly after the restart and tried to pick out Mellon, but his ball across the area had just too much on it for the frontman to be able to connect.

Grant then fired over the bar after some good pressing from Hugill had helped the Clarets to win the ball high up the pitch before a trio of shots – from Mellon, Bauress & Helm respectively – were all blocked away within 30 seconds of one another.

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Westley and Seb Thompson were introduced from the bench on 64 minutes as Burnley looked to make their dominance count, but centre back Ward had to be alert soon after to prevent Connor Evans opening the scoring.

And with eight minutes remaining, Waller produced a huge save to keep Crewe’s Charlie Finney out. Evans also headed over for the hosts in space less than a minute later.

In the final stages, Burnley continued to push for what would have been a winner, with a Trialist introduced off the bench who saw a shot held by Richards after the ‘keeper had clung on to a low-driven strike from Helm which almost fell into the path of Westley following a deflection.

Helm was also inches away from a last-gasp winner in the third minute of time added on, with his late effort dipping the wrong side of the bar, and it ended goalless with a point each.

The Clarets remain 2nd in the Northern Section of the Professional Development League, and return to action away at Wigan Athletic next Monday (October 3) in a 13:00 kick-off. Taking place at the DW Stadium, coverage of that game will come via Twitter - @ClaretsAcademy.

Burnley: Waller, Healy-Byrne, Trialist, Ward, Dodgson, Lewis, Bauress, Helm ©, Hugill (Trialist ’84), Grant (Thompson ’64), Mellon (Westley ’64)

Unused Subs: Vilar Robinson, James

Crewe: Richards, Bhatti, Adebisi, Griffiths, Billington, Sass-Davies, Finney, Lunt (Nolan ’84), Evans, Brook (Martins ’70), Tabiner

Unused Subs: Booth, Washington, Sant

Goals: None