REACTION: Late Goal Just What The Doctor Ordered

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U23s boss pleased with team's response as Clarets come back with a bang

2020-11-09T18:49:37.333Z

REACTION: Late Goal Just What The Doctor Ordered

U23s boss pleased with team's response as Clarets come back with a bang

2020-11-09T18:49:37.333Z

PL PREVIEW: Aston Villa v Burnley - Image 3

Steve Stone was delighted to see his team back in rude health as they twice hit back to earn a point in PL2.

The Clarets’ saw their last game called off because of the number of players in isolation around Covid-19.

But with a near full squad for almost the first time since the opening day of the season, the U23s showed their true colours in an entertaining 2-2 draw with Aston Villa – substitute Joel Mumbongo equalising in stoppage time to end a run of three straight defeats.

“I’ve got three or four boys who through Covid haven’t been in the building for two weeks, so it was testament to the likes of Bobby Thomas, Josh Benson and Anthony Glennon who have been away,” said U23s’ boss Stone.

U23S PREVIEW: Leeds United v Burnley - Image 2

“And Rob Harker, as well. I’m delighted for them to get a game of football and get on the right end of a result by being relentless and going to the end to get a goal off a set-piece.

“It’s me trying to show them what football is about. It’s not all about the technical side of the game and passing and moving.

“It’s about all sides of the games, in and out of possession, and I thought we showed that.

“I’m really pleased for them all. I was delighted with their attitude and application. That’s what you’re looking for and you could see what it meant with the celebration at the end.”

The Clarets trailed to an early Jaden Philogene-Bidace goal before one of two trialists in the Burnley line-up levelled before half-time when he beat former Clarets’ captain Tom Heaton – making his comeback from injury – at the second attempt.

Villa then struck against the run of play to regain the lead through Aaron Ramsey with 15 minutes to go.

Mumbongo Short-Listed For Award - Image 1

And although Mumbongo’s late leveller wasn’t enough to lift the Clarets off the bottom of the Second Division, it deservedly gave them something to show for their efforts ahead of a two-week break from action.

“There have been a few games where we’ve deserved something out of it but we’ve been a bit naïve and we’ve been a lot weaker than that in terms of our team selection, so you sort of accept that,” added Stone.

“We conceded a really sloppy first goal today and again the second one was a counter-attack and a bit naïve.

“But we mixed it really well, played into pockets, played diagonal balls, turned them and got crosses into the box.

“And they are side who have come down from the top level, who have been good for a lot of years, have put some money into the club and have got some really good technical players, so I was delighted with what we were seeing out there today in patches.

“The first 10 or 15 minutes I wasn’t happy but in the middle section of the game I was really happy to see what the boys were about, considering the disruption they’ve had in recent weeks.”