MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 1 - 2 NOTTINGHAM FOREST

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Clarets beaten despite resilient display on final day

2024-05-19T18:24:45.637Z

MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 1 - 2 NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Clarets beaten despite resilient display on final day

2024-05-19T18:24:45.637Z

GALLERY: BURNLEY V NOTTINGHAM FOREST - Gallery Photo 15

In the Lancashire sunshine the Clarets saw out the 2023/24 season with a 1-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest.

There was just the one change for the home side with Zeki Amdouni returning to the starting XI in place of Vitinho. The visitors meanwhile made two changes from last weekend's defeat to Chelsea, with Harry Toffolo and Anthony Elanga in from the start for Moussa Niakhaté and Ola Aina.

Recently announced departures Jack Cork and Johann Berg Gudmundsson were named on the Burnley bench for their final home game in front of the Clarets faithful and both made appearances on the day.

It wasn't the start Vincent Kompany's side had hoped for though, as within the first two minutes former Claret Chris Wood put Forest ahead when he arrived at the back post to fire in from Elanga's cross, in front of the jubilant away supporters.

Fourteen minutes in Wood doubled Forest's lead when he deflected Ryan Yates' effort, wrong footing Aro Muric. A VAR check to see if the striker was onside ensued, before Stockley Park confirmed the goal.

As Burnley pushed to get back into it, good work on the wing from Jacob Bruun Larsen saw him find Zeki Amdouni well placed but he fired his shot over. With the Forest defence standing strong, Maxime Estéve tried a long-range effort but it didn't trouble Matz Sels.

43 minutes in Wilson Odobert came close forcing a corner after Toffolo blocked his shot, before four additional minutes were added in the blazing Turf Moor sunshine.

In the closing stages of the half Amdouni had a chance from 25 yards out but it travelled just past the post.

GALLERY: BURNLEY V NOTTINGHAM FOREST - Gallery Photo 16

The break brought about two changes, with Lorenz Assignon and Bruun Larsen replaced by Vitinho and Johann Berg Gudmundsson - who entered the pitch to rapturous applause from the home crowd.

Burnley came out positively as they looked to convert some of the chances created into goals. Gudmundsson sent a lovely diagonal ball into the box but Odobert couldn't quite connect with it how he'd have liked and his shot flew over.

Muric made a fantastic save on the 54th minute to deny Gibbs-White from making it three and in end to end action Odobert flew into the Forest half, found Amdouni but he couldn't quite get his shot away. As was the case in the first half Burnley were creating plenty of chances as they chased that elusive first goal to reduce the deficit.

Forest took the opportunity to make their first change of the afternoon 58 minutes in, with Ibrahim Sangaré introduced for Ryan Yates.

On the hour mark, Odobert who continued to look lively, had another attempt but it curled wide of the post.

Estéve was given a yellow card for a foul on Elanga and the resulting free-kick, from just outside the box, was driven in by Murillo and Muric got down well to his right to keep it out.

Dara O'Shea did excellently to get a vital foot in to take the ball away from Elanga who was honing in on goal at pace.

Burnley did claw a goal back in the 71st minute through Josh Cullen, whose hit from outside the area found itself in the back of the net.

Kompany made a double substitution three minutes later with Charlie Taylor and Amdouni making way for Josh Brownhill and Jay Rodriguez.

MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 1 - 2 NOTTINGHAM FOREST - Image 2

With the game progressing into its final stages Forest Head Coach then made a double switch of his own, with Taiwo Awoniyi and Moussa Niakhate on for Wood and Danilo, before Burnley's Jack Cork was introduced to a standing ovation with five minutes to go.

After Cheikhou Kouyate and Rodrigo Ribeiro replaced Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga for the visitors the Clarets continued their search for an equalising goal with Odobert coming closest after a fine team move down the left, but his effort arrowed wide of the right hand post.

The players showed their appreciation for the Clarets faithful after the final whistle, circling the pitch and applauding all four stands with the 2023/24 Premier League season now at its conclusion.

Burnley: Muric, O'Shea, Taylor (Rodriguez 74), Berge, Foster, Assignon (Vitinho 46), Cullen (Cork 85), Amdouni (Brownhill 74), Estéve, Bruun Larsen (Gudmundsson 46), Odobert

Subs: Trafford, Ekdal, Fofana, Massengo

Nottingham Forest: Sels, Gibbs-White, Wood (Awoniyi 80), Hudson-Odoi (Kouyaté 88), Toffolo, Elanga (Ribeiro 88), Yates (Sangaré 58), Danilo (Niakhaté 80), Montiel, Boly, Murillo

Subs: Turner, Reyna, Origi, Omobamidele

Goals: Wood 2', 14', Cullen 71'