U23 REPORT: Burnley 2 Fulham 1

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

Clarets stand firm to secure second win and move off the foot of the table

2020-11-23T13:00:00.000Z

U23 REPORT: Burnley 2 Fulham 1

Clarets stand firm to secure second win and move off the foot of the table

2020-11-23T13:00:00.000Z

Clarets striker a candidate for PL2 prize as U23s return to action at Stoke

Goals from Max Thompson and Joel Mumbongo set up the Clarets’ second win of the season as they climbed off the foot of the table.

The goals inside a 10-minute burst capped a superb first-half performance from Steve Stone’s side.

And then after the Cottagers had pulled a goal back through Jean-Pierre before the break, the Clarets repelled a second-half fightback to go above Fulham in the PL2’s Second Division.

Burnley brought Mumbongo back into the side in place of the injured Rob Harker and the striker justified his recall with a dominant opening half which had Fulham on the rack.

He was then replaced for the last half hour by new signing Arman Taranis, who had a chance to make the game safe with a goal on his debut but was denied by Fulham keeper George Wickens.

The Clarets also had on-loan French midfielder Anthony Gomez-Mancini back in their starting line-up and he helped Burnley control the first half at the County Ground as they looked for a second home success after a four-match winless run.

Fulham had lost their last five league fixtures, as well as going out of the EFL Trophy at the group stages, and they struggled to deal with the combination of Mumbongo and Lewis Richardson.

Mumbongo should have struck 10 minutes in but dragged his shot wide after a one-two with Richardson and a break from half-way.

But the Clarets did get their reward after 20 minutes when they again moved the ball well for the defensive trialist to cross for Thompson to get in front of Wickens and poke the ball home.

Richardson then shot over following another link-up with Mumbongo before the latter got the goal he deserved to double Burnley’s lead.

Once again he spun away from Connor McAvoy as the hosts turned defence into attack and this time his burst into the box finished with a fine left-footed finish across the keeper.

Fulham had barely threatened but with half an hour gone they scored with their only chance of the half to peg Burnley back as Jean-Pierre Tiehi side-footed home a low cross from Jayden Harris.

Mumbongo then fired into the side netting but the Cottagers made a telling change at the break which added momentum to their attempted comeback.

Sylvester Jasper played Championship football last season and he showed his pedigree by adding to Fulham’s cutting edge.

The Clarets lost their way for spells as they went away from the simple passing game that had put them on top.

But in goalkeeper Lukas Jensen they had an unmovable object and the big Dane made three crucial blocks, spreading himself to deny Japer, Tiehi and then Harris as Fulham pressed for a late leveller.

The Clarets’ best chance to earn themselves some breathing space came Taranis’ way after he was released by Richardson.

The Dane was unable to announce his arrival in style, but the Clarets held out to move away from bottom spot as they continue to come of age at their new level.

Burnley: Jensen; Trialist, Benson, Glennon, Rain (Dodgson 64); Thompson, Gomez-Mancini, Benson, Tucker; Mumbongo (Taranis 64), Richardson. Substitutes: Richter, Elva-Fountaine, Barrett.

Fulham: Wickens; Murphy, McAvoy, Mundle-Smith, Larkeche; Page; Harris, Hilton (Jasper HT), Carvalho, De Havilland; Tiehi. Substitutes: Schwarzer, Ablade, Duru, Aina.

Referee: Paul Marsden