U21 REPORT: BURNLEY 0-3 QUEENS PARK RANGERS

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Clarets defeated by Hoops at County Ground

2022-08-22T13:30:00.000Z

U21 REPORT: BURNLEY 0-3 QUEENS PARK RANGERS

Clarets defeated by Hoops at County Ground

2022-08-22T13:30:00.000Z

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Burnley’s U21s lost out 3-0 to Queens Park Rangers at the County Ground in Professional Development League action on Monday afternoon (August 22).

Trailing 1-0 at the break to Joe Gubbins’ opener, the Clarets conceded two in two minutes from Alfie Lloyd in the closing stages to put a comprehensive look on the scoreline despite being on the front foot for much of the second half.

Lewis Thomas started in goal for Burnley with three U18 squad members involved. 16-year-old Joe Bauress continued from the off, while Joe Westley and goalkeeper Harry Moss were amongst the substitutes.

QPR meanwhile fielded a more experienced side, with eight of their starting 11 having played senior football either at Loftus Road or elsewhere in the Football League & National League.

First Half

The opening five minutes in Leyland saw visitors QPR scramble away Lewis Richardson’s shot and goalkeeper Murphy Mahoney hold onto Ne-Jai Tucker’s header.

Faysal Bettache then struck over the bar at the other end, while Tucker fired over from inside the box on the 25-minute mark.

Striker Richardson then latched onto a long ball and cut inside, seeing a shot blocked behind by Arkell Jude-Boyd, before QPR came into the game and Connor Masterson – who has 32 EFL appearances to his name – glanced a header narrowly off target from a free-kick.

Stan Flaherty then blazed over from a matter of yards out with an open goal to aim at on 33 minutes, and the Hoops eventually made their pressure count through Gubbins two minutes later. On loan at Southend United last season, the defender tapped home as the ball fell to him from a corner.

Richardson tried his luck from just shy of the halfway line prior to the interval, but Mahoney scrambled to hold the strike, and it remained 1-0 come the break.

Second Half

At the restart, Burnley were firmly on top and saw Tucker’s strike blocked over for a corner by Aaron Drewe at point-blank range with Mahoney firmly beaten.

The winger tried again not long after with the same result, and when Joe McGlynn won a free-kick on the edge of the area, Tucker was again denied by Mahoney from the resulting free-kick.

McGlynn then latched onto a ball upfield to have a shot one-on-one saved by Mahoney, with Richardson’s follow-up effort blocked away.

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The efforts didn’t stop there, Richardson twice denied by the ‘keeper – who made appearances in the Sky Bet Championship for QPR last season – before Joseph Ajose volleyed over at the other end.

Finn Armstrong was forced off after a knock on 76 minutes, and in the four minutes that followed, QPR had added two goals onto their tally for the afternoon through Lloyd. The first a low-driven strike from range, the second a header from Jude-Boyd’s cross.

Burnley continued to push late on, but the pressure came in vain, with no goals found and the full-time whistle signalling a 3-0 defeat.

The U21s return to action next Tuesday (August 30) away at Cardiff City in a 13:00 BST kick-off.

Burnley: Thomas, Hugill, Sassi, Ward, Armstrong (McCullough ’76), Tucker, Helm ©, Bauress (Deane ’81), Ratchford, Richardson, McGlynn

Unused Subs: Moss, Coppack, Westley

QPR: Mahoney, Jude-Boyd, Drewe, Rendall, Gubbins, Masterson ©, Bettache, Duke-McKenna, Lloyd, Flaherty, Ajose

Subs: Salamon, Woodman, Pedder, Alfa

Goals: Gubbins, ’35, Lloyd, ’78 & ‘80