U21 PL CUP REPORT: BURNLEY 3-3 SWANSEA CITY

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Clarets Premier League Cup journey ends with draw against Swans in Leyland

2023-01-13T10:30:00.000Z

U21 PL CUP REPORT: BURNLEY 3-3 SWANSEA CITY

Clarets Premier League Cup journey ends with draw against Swans in Leyland

2023-01-13T10:30:00.000Z

U21 REPORT: HULL CITY 2-3 BURNLEY - Image 4

Burnley’s U21 side took a point from a 3-3 draw against Swansea City at the County Ground in Premier League Cup action, ending their hopes of progression into the knockout stages of the competition.

The Clarets headed into the game needing to win both of their remaining group stage games, with a trip to Arsenal to come next Wednesday evening (18th January, 7pm).

Michael Mellon netted a hat-trick against the Swans, but the point now means the U21s are now unable to catch 2nd-placed Stoke City.

Burnley made two changes from Monday’s – 9th January – 3-0 league victory against Sheffield Wednesday at the Burnley Training Centre. Goalkeeper Denis Franchi started in goal, replacing Lewis Thomas, and following his strike in the Clarets win against the Owls, Seb Thompson also made the 11.

First Half

The Clarets started strong, and after Mellon had seen two chances come and go, he got the opener on 21 minutes as he fired home the rebound from Ne-Jai Tucker’s low shot.

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Swansea goalkeeper Remi Mitchell had parried out Tucker’s shot, and fumbled the ball oncemore from Thompson's cross into the box four minutes later with the same outcome as Mellon doubled Burnley’s lead.

But just before the half-hour mark, the visitors halved the deficit with a big slice of luck to the goal as Tarrelle Whittaker’s long-range effort took a wicked deflection off the unknowing Trialist who was facing away from the ball. That deflection wrongfooted Franchi and the strike went in off the far post.

Then, only five minutes later, the scores were levelled as Whittaker got a goal of his own when he volleyed home a low cross.

U21 PL CUP PREVIEW: ARSENAL V BURNLEY - Image 1

Both Mellon and Tucker went close before the break, but the sides headed in level.

Second Half

Boosted by those two goals to get back on even terms, the Welsh outfit rallied at the start of the second half and got their noses in front on 54 minutes via Iwan Morgan. The forward looked to be a yard offside when the ball was played through to him, but he fired past Franchi when the linesman’s flag remained by his side.

Soon after, ‘keeper Mitchell made a terrific save to deny Clarets captain Benn Ward at the back post from a set-piece, while Franchi pulled out a smart stop to deny City’s Lincoln McFayden.

U21 PL CUP REPORT: BURNLEY 3-3 SWANSEA CITY - Image 3

And minutes later, having been denied by Mitchell from distance, Mellon got his hat-trick as he took down an inch-perfect ball upfield to touch past the ‘keeper, levelling things up oncemore.

Burnley’s Trialist was the next to go close, his effort at the back post blocked off the line, while Marcel Lewis was inches away from winning it late on.

Four minutes of time were signalled by the fourth official, and with the very last kick of the game, Mellon sent a strike wide having been played through by substitute Trevon Bryan.

The Clarets will round off their campaign in Group G with Wednesday’s trip to face Arsenal, who have already secured top spot. After that, they are next in league action with the visit of Crewe Alexandra to the County Ground on Tuesday 24th January (2pm KO).

Burnley: Franchi, Williams (Ratchford ’88), Ward ©, Trialist, Dodgson, Bauress, Davies, Tucker, Lewis, Mellon, Thompson (Bryan ’80)

Unused Subs: Thomas, Turner, McCullough

Swansea City: Mitchell, Jones, Blythe (Ludvigsen ’65), Abdulai, Williams ©, Thomas, Trialist, Leverett, Morgan (Cotterill ’76), Whittaker (Hurford ‘90+1), McFayden

Unused Subs: Hurford, Hughes, Cotterill, Ludvigsen, Jenkins

Goals: Mellon, ’21, ’25 & ’78, Trialist (Swansea), ’29, Whittaker, ’34, Morgan, ‘54