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Striker ends long wait for a goal with crucial strike to set up win over Wolves

2020-12-21T20:55:46.748Z

Barnes Back With A Bang

Striker ends long wait for a goal with crucial strike to set up win over Wolves

2020-12-21T20:55:46.748Z

Striker ends long wait for a goal with crucial strike to set up win over Wolves

Ashley Barnes ended his growing frustration with the striker’s first goal of the season setting up another big win for the Clarets.

Barnes hadn’t scored in 13 months either side of a troublesome period out following hernia surgery.

But after bouncing back from a missed chance to give Burnley an earlier lead, Barnes headed home to set up a 2-1 victory over Wolves which extended the Clarets’ unbeaten run to four games and lifted them up to 16th place in the Premier League.

“It feels brilliant,” said Barnes, who broke his duck on his seventh league start of the campaign with a header from Charlie Taylor’s excellent far-post cross.

“It has been a difficult period. Frustration plays a big part, but I know my ability and I just had to keep going and know that it will come.

“I have been frustrated in previous games I’ve played.

“I definitely should have been on the scoresheet this season already. It’s a big thing I put on my own shoulders.

“I know I can do better and I should do better with the chances I’ve had in previous games, so it was nice to finally get on the scoresheet.

“I was a bit gutted from the chance before that he saved but you have to keep working hard and getting in the right positions.

“It was a great team build-up. I saw Woody play that ball and I just had to peel off. Chaz hung it up lovely for me and luckily I just got enough on it.

“Every striker wants to hit the back of the net. Luckily enough I’ve done that today and hopefully long may it continue.”

Clarets Ready For Roses Battle - Image 2

Barnes’ effort, which followed a strike against Wolves last season as one of half-a-dozen he managed before the end of November, gave the Clarets a half-time lead.

Strike partner Chris Wood then deservedly doubled Burnley’s lead six minutes after the break and, despite conceding a late penalty to miss out on a third successive clean sheet, Sean Dyche’s men had done enough from one of their most productive performances of the season to wrap up a third win in six games to again escape the bottom three.

“It was a massive win and a great team performance,” added Barnes.

“We made it hard for ourselves at the end there, but we hung on and that was a great win.

“It has been coming. We are down there for a reason, but we believe in the squad we have and hopefully we can keep climbing the table now.

“If you keep working hard it will pay you back, and that’s what we do.

“We have been unlucky in some games this year but hopefully we can go on a run now and see where we end up.

“To get away from the drop zone as quickly as possible is what we need to do.”