U21 PREVIEW: BURNLEY V SWANSEA CITY

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Clarets take on Swans at Turf in final home league game of campaign

2023-04-30T11:30:00.000Z

U21 PREVIEW: BURNLEY V SWANSEA CITY

Clarets take on Swans at Turf in final home league game of campaign

2023-04-30T11:30:00.000Z

Clarets take on Swans at Turf in final home league game of campaign

Burnley’s Professional Development League campaign on home soil comes to an end in a meeting with Swansea City at Turf Moor tomorrow afternoon – 1st May, 2pm KO – which season ticket holders can watch for free.

With the Clarets still vying for a play-off spot this term, non-season ticket holders can watch for just £4 on Bank Holiday Monday with tickets still available to buy right up until kick-off HERE.

To reach those play-offs, the U21s must finish inside the Northern Section’s top two, and with Sheffield United wrapping up top spot some weeks ago, it’s been a race for that 2nd place ever since.

U21 PREVIEW: BURNLEY V SWANSEA CITY - Image 1

Burnley, with two games left, currently sit 4th with Wigan Athletic in 2nd & Hull City in 3rd both four points ahead on 39.

Both though have played a game more, so victory against the Swans would send the Clarets back to within touching distance ahead of a final day showdown against Watford at Vicarage Road on 9th May.

In-between those two league games, Burnley will face Blackburn Rovers behind closed doors in the semi-final of the Lancashire Senior Cup.

Swansea themselves are also in the hunt for a play-off spot in the Southern Section of the PDL, 3rd in the standings at the time of writing.

U21 PREVIEW: BURNLEY V SWANSEA CITY - Image 2

Both they and Bristol City in 2nd have played 25 games, with the Robins – whom Burnley earned a point against earlier this month – seven ahead of the Swans.

Accordingly, anything bar three points for the South Wales outfit at Turf Moor would likely spell the end of their play-off push, though that pair do face off before the campaign comes to an end.

Both sides head into Monday’s game on the back of wins, with the Clarets running out 2-1 victors away at Colchester United last Monday evening thanks to a moment of individual brilliance from Renaldo Torraj.

After Tom Tweedy’s opener had been cancelled out by the hosts, and with the game looking set for a draw, Albanian Torraj came off the bench to step up and curl a glorious free-kick from distance home off the far post, keeping Burnley in the play-off mix.

And Monday’s visitors Swansea bounced back from two defeats on the bounce with a resounding 4-1 win against already-crowned northern champions Sheffield United last time out.

Jon Grey’s side went ahead early on through an own goal against a younger-looking Blades team, and after a leveller from the visitors, reacted in style with three unanswered goals. All three from forward Josh Thomas who now has 13 goals in 13 appearances for the U21s this term.

Prior to Monday at Turf Moor, the Clarets and the Swans have already faced off twice this season, both in the Premier League Cup group stage.

Thomas was also on target in the first of those meetings down in South Wales as City came from two behind to score five unanswered goals in the second half.

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Mike Mellon got Burnley’s two goals that afternoon, and in the reverse fixture at the County Ground in Leyland went on to net a hat-trick. That wasn’t enough for three points however, as it ended in a 3-3 draw. Neither of the two teams progressed into the knockout stages of the competition.

For the third and final instalment this season on Monday, if you can’t make it then we’ll be covering the clash over on Twitter via @ClaretsAcademy. There’ll also be a post-match report here for you on burnleyfc.com.