U21 REPORT: BURNLEY 1-3 CHARLTON ATHLETIC

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

Clarets beaten by Addicks in season opener

2022-08-08T15:24:20.305Z

U21 REPORT: BURNLEY 1-3 CHARLTON ATHLETIC

Clarets beaten by Addicks in season opener

2022-08-08T15:24:20.305Z

Clarets beaten by Addicks in season opener

Burnley’s U21 side began their Professional Development League campaign with a 3-1 defeat to Charlton Athletic at the County Ground in Leyland.

Lewis Richardson had drawn the Clarets level after falling behind to an early Tolu Ladapo goal, but Jason Adigun put the Addicks back ahead on the stroke of half time, and Jeremy Santos added a third midway through the second half.

Captained by striker Richardson, the Clarets squad included three members of the youth team with 16-year-old Joe Bauress starting in midfield.

Amongst those to have stepped up permanently from the U18s having completed his own scholarship, Northern Irish youth international full back Dane McCullough was also in the starting lineup, and made a league debut at U21 level.

Headed up by Danny Senda, Charlton – who finished 4th in the Southern Section of the Professional Development League last season – named Dylan Gavin in their 11.

The striker has already made his bow at senior level in the EFL Trophy, and grabbed 11 goals at U23 level last term before the competition reverted to an U21 format ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

First Half

Starting the quicker, visitors Charlton were ahead within two minutes through Ladapo, who swept home from five yards out.

Richardson then burst forward on the counter attack at the other end soon after, seeing Addicks goalkeeper Nathan Harness save his first effort of the afternoon.

The frontman went close again, rounding the ‘keeper on the right wing and shooting over from an acute angle, before eventually grabbing a leveller on the half-hour mark.

Slipped through on goal, Richardson fired the ball through Harness’ legs and into the back of the net with no mistake.

But after Kade Ratchford had sent an effort over the bar, and Richardson had been denied again by Harness after dancing through the visitors’ defence, Adigun’s late goal ensured Charlton would be ahead come the interval.

The midfielder took advantage of a slip at the back from a cross into the area to slide the ball home.

Second Half

Will Hugill replaced Coppack at the interval, and on 49 minutes, Richardson came close to a second equaliser of the afternoon, striking the woodwork.

Charlton’s Euan Williams then fired wide of the mark from inside the area just after the hour-mark, heading over the bar at close range moments later.

Richardson also saw an effort go over the bar, while substitute Hugill beat Harness with a dink having taken a floated pass into his path and raced into the box, but also beat the post and saw his effort bounce inches wide.

That came on 67 minutes, and less than 60 seconds later, Charlton grabbed their third through Santos. An initial effort hit the woodwork, bouncing straight back to Santos who converted on the half volley via a deflection.

Sam Waller then did well to deny forward Gavin one-on-one, and while Burnley introduced both Benn Ward & Joe Westley to try and get back into the contest, goalmouth action was in short supply in the closing stages.

The U21s now move onto their second game of the campaign next Monday (August 15) when they travel to Reading’s Select Car Leasing Stadium.