SEASON REVIEW: U23s PART TWO

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

In part two we take a look at the remainder of the U23s 2021/22 campaign...

2022-06-03T14:00:00.000Z

SEASON REVIEW: U23s PART TWO

In part two we take a look at the remainder of the U23s 2021/22 campaign...

2022-06-03T14:00:00.000Z

In part two we take a look at the remainder of the U23s 2021/22 campaign...

JANUARY

After a heavily re-scheduled end to 2021, the New Year brought a mixed bag of results as players including Jacob Bedeau (Morecambe) headed out on loan across the January transfer window into first-team environments.

Meanwhile, there were also first-team opportunities at Turf Moor for some of the U23s, Owen Dodgson notably featuring against Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup third round.

Back on the pitch, the year began with draws at home to Birmingham City and Wolves before a gut-wrenching last-minute defeat away at Norwich City on a long Friday night trip to Anglia.

Defeat at home to Sheffield United in the fourth of six group stage Premier League Cup matches left the Clarets with a slender chance of progression into the competition’s knockout stages.

The opening month of 2022 did end on a high however, a 1-0 win against Accrington Stanley on Deadline Day in the Central League Cup group stages as Michael Mellon again added to his impressive tally for the season.

FEBRUARY

In an unusual month with fixtures continuing to be re-arranged for various reasons, Burnley went through the whole of February without playing a single league game in the Premier League 2, Division.

Progression into the knockout stages of the Central League Cup was secured with a 100% record as the Clarets won 4-1 away at Bolton Wanderers. Ashley Barnes headed home the first goal of the afternoon that day.

It should be noted that due to the withdrawal of other teams in the competition, Burnley have now received a bye into the final of the Central League Cup against Preston North End. This fixture is expected to be scheduled into the U23s pre-season plans and details will be announced in due course.

There was also a comeback win against Everton at the County Ground in Leyland in the fifth Premier League Cup group stage game. That - combined with results elsewhere in the group - meant that qualification was still possible if Burnley could get a result away at Peterborough United.

It wasn’t to be for Mike Jackson’s side though, losing out 5-2 away against the Posh to end the month, exiting the competition in the process.

MARCH

The ‘league game drought’ continued at the start of March, with Bolton again the opponents for Burnley in a cup competition for the second time in exactly a month at the Trotters’ Lostock training base.

This time in the quarter-final of the Lancashire Senior Cup, the Clarets again ran out strong winners, Dara Costelloe hitting a brace with Lewis Richardson also finding the net in a 3-0 success.

It took until March 14 for PL2 action to return, a Monday night haul to Reading coming just a week short of two months since Jackson’s side had last played a league game. Hosted by the Royals at their Select Car Leasing Stadium, it was to be they who would win 2-1 on the night.

From there on though, Burnley’s late push for a play-off spot became nigh on relentless, and ahead of the final international break of the campaign, they bounced back with an impressive 2-0 win up in the North East against Sunderland.

Full back Dodgson the unlikely goalscoring hero, netting twice against Champions League winner Ron-Thorben Hoffmann at the Stadium of Light on a night when the Black Cats boasted numerous first-teamers from the get-go.

APRIL

The push for the play-offs began with a show of character from the Clarets, coming from behind to beat Southampton 2-1 at Gawthorpe as Matej Vydra gained some playing time.

With many games to fit in, the schedule was simply packed out, but Burnley were standing up to the test.

Trailing 1-0 at the break at home to Newcastle United, a second-half show was put on as Ben Woods netted a sublime hat-trick in what ended a 5-1 success.

Then came a 3-1 win at Accrington Stanley’s Wham Stadium in the semi-final of the Lancashire Senior Cup the following Monday evening, Costelloe and Max Thompson again amongst the scorers.

Following the departure of Sean Dyche as the first-team manager on Good Friday, U23s boss Jackson stepped up and in turn left assistant Andy Farrell in charge of U23s affairs, beginning with a PL2 fixture that same evening.

West Brom the visitors to the County Ground in Leyland, another pulsating three points on the board after a 3-2 win. A trip to eventual play-off runners-up Stoke followed on a blazing hot Friday evening in the Potteries. A goalless draw earned the Clarets a hard-fought point with some crucial saves from goalkeeper Sam Waller.

Then came the penultimate league fixture of the season and the final home game, Aston Villa the visitors this time around. Young centre back Dan Sassi headed home the winner as Burnley again came from behind to defeat a Villa side which had comfortably dispatched the Clarets in the reverse fixture.

Heading to already-crowned champions Fulham for the final game of the campaign, the Clarets were - impressively - still in with a shout of finishing in the play-off spots.

An enthralling encounter played out in London with Burnley three times the leaders on the night, but a four-goal haul from the Cottagers’ Luke Harris more than played its part in their 5-3 win on the night as they lifted the PL2 title.

Results elsewhere meant that despite their efforts and successes over the season, Burnley missed out on the play-offs solely by the virtue of goal difference. Five goals better off, Norwich took the last spot.

Nevertheless, the 6th-placed finish in PL2, Div. 2 which was achieved is something to look back on with fondness and pride for the Clarets U23s in just their second season at this level.

MAY

Just one game remained of the season for the U23s by the time May had come around and it was the final of the Lancashire Senior Cup against Liverpool. Burnley ‘keeper Waller pulled off an impressive penalty save in the second half at the County Ground in Leyland, but it wasn’t to be on the night.

With well-known names like Rhys Williams and Tyler Morton on show, the Reds came out on top 1-0 in a tightly-fought affair, the sides only separated by somewhat of a wonder strike.

Runners-up medals collected and the campaign concluded, planning for the next one is already underway.

Share this post