U21 PREVIEW: COLCHESTER UNITED V BURNLEY

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Clarets take play-off push on road to Essex in penultimate away trip of campaign

2023-04-23T08:00:00.000Z

U21 PREVIEW: COLCHESTER UNITED V BURNLEY

Clarets take play-off push on road to Essex in penultimate away trip of campaign

2023-04-23T08:00:00.000Z

Clarets face stern pre-season test against senior opposition

Burnley’s U21 side are in Professional Development League action on Monday evening – 24th April – down in Essex with Colchester United the opponents at the JobServe Community Stadium (7pm KO).

Following on from last week’s 1-1 draw at home against Bristol City, the Clarets have just three league games left this term.

Joe Westley netted the Burnley goal in that game, and sights are still set on a top-two finish in the Northern Section, which would be enough to take them through into the national play-offs at the end of the season.

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At the time of writing, the Clarets sit 6th, only four points off Wigan Athletic in 2nd. Sheffield United have already sealed top spot, the Blades way out in front of the chasing pack with 54 points to their name.

The trip to Colchester provides Burnley with the opportunity to pick up a first league win in six having lost three – all away from home – and drawn two on home soil in their previous five. In the middle of that run, the U21s played out friendlies against XIs from Cornell University and Stockport County, beating the Hatters 2-0 at Edgeley Park.

United themselves sit 9th in the Southern Section of the PDL, six points higher than bottom-club Watford having played a game less.

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Headed up by former England youth international Richard Hall, the U’s last time out beat Hull City 3-2 away at the MKM Stadium, with the Tigers chasing 2nd spot in the Northern Section alongside Burnley.

Mounting a remarkable comeback in East Yorkshire, Colchester struck twice in seven second half minutes through Lion Bello & Kaan Bennett to take all three points. That was a first win in eight.

Last time the Clarets met the U’s at this level, back in August 2019, a 16-year-old Lewis Richardson was on the scoresheet in a 2-2 draw.

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A few days later, he would be named on the bench at senior level for a Carabao Cup tie against Sunderland at Turf Moor.

This time around, you’ll be able to follow tomorrow night’s PDL clash on Twitter via @ClaretsAcademy, and read our post-match report right here on burnleyfc.com.