U21 REPORT: BURNLEY 1-1 BRISTOL CITY

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Clarets take point against high-flying Robins on league return

2023-04-17T09:00:00.000Z

U21 REPORT: BURNLEY 1-1 BRISTOL CITY

Clarets take point against high-flying Robins on league return

2023-04-17T09:00:00.000Z

Clarets semi-final tie to be re-arranged

In their first Professional Development League game for a fortnight, Burnley’s U21 side drew 1-1 against Bristol City at the County Ground in Leyland.

Still chasing a top-two finish this term, the Clarets hit the front foot just after the break as striker Joe Westley netted the opener. Less than 60 seconds later though, the Robins – who look assured of a play-off spot in the Southern Section of the PDL – hit back via the boot of Seb Palmer-Houlden.

Dan Sassi again captained the U21s, partnering Jack Turner in defence, while U18s Wiktor Gromek & Kian Le Fondre made the bench.

First Half

Early on, Palmer-Houlden – who netted a hat-trick for the Robins last time out – cut the ball back for Tommy Blackwell to take aim, but a last-ditch block from Burnley’s trialist denied the visitors an opener.

CLARETS CALENDAR: YOUR GUIDE TO THE WEEK AHEAD - Image 1

City’s Olly Thomas then fired over from the edge of the box before Jez Davies was denied at the other end by a fine stop from Jose Casa-Grande as he looked to tuck away a low cross into the area from Brad Grant.

Davies also saw another effort blocked in the box prior to the interval while Will Hugill struck over. Midfielder Hugill, in addition, had a low-driven strike held by Casa-Grande and Ben Acey’s drilled effort was blocked away by Clarets captain Dan Sassi.

Second Half

After a largely sparse opening 45 minutes for both sides in front of goal, just like London Buses, two came at once.

CLARETS CALENDAR: YOUR GUIDE TO THE WEEK AHEAD - Image 2

Burnley took the lead on 50 minutes as a free-flowing move upfield saw Joe Bauress slip the ball through to Hugill who in turn picked out Westley at the back post to tap home past Casa-Grande.

But straight from the restart, the visitors went up the other end and Palmer-Houlden was on hand to volley home a cross from the left wing at point-blank range.

Hugill came close moments later when he fired over from Tom Tweedy’s cut back, with City then passing up on some gilt-edged opportunities of their own.

Sassi first blocked a shot away from Palmer-Houlden with Denis Franchi keeping out Marlee Francois’ deflected effort soon after.

Clarets substitute Seb Thompson and midfielder Davies were the next to go close, before Franchi denied Kai Churchley, and held onto a shot from Jed Meerholz.

U21 REPORT: BURNLEY 1-1 BRISTOL CITY - Image 3

The best opportunity for Burnley to win it came in the fourth minute of added time when Thompson took aim from the edge of the area and had a shot saved by Casa-Grande, with Westley’s follow-up blocked behind by a Robins defender.

The U21s are next back in action away at Colchester United a week today – 24th April – with a 7pm KO scheduled at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Burnley: Franchi, Trialist, Sassi ©, Turner, Grant, Davies, Bauress., Hugill, Tweedy (Thompson ’61), Westley, Torraj

Unused Subs: Moss, Healy-Byrne, Gromek, Le Fondre

Bristol City: Casa-Grande, Leeson, Wood, Taylor-Clarke, Idehen ©, Bell, Morrison, Acey, Thomas, Blackwell, Palmer-Houlden

Subs: Duncan, Clark, Churchley, Francois, Meerholz

Goals: Westley, ’50, Palmer-Houlden, ‘51