U21 REPORT: BURNLEY 3-0 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

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Clarets see off Owls in style to start 2023 with three points

2023-01-09T16:41:17.942Z

U21 REPORT: BURNLEY 3-0 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

Clarets see off Owls in style to start 2023 with three points

2023-01-09T16:41:17.942Z

U21 PREVIEW: BURNLEY V CREWE ALEXANDRA - Image 2

Burnley’s U21 side began 2023 with a 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday in Professional Development League action at the Burnley Training Centre.

Following a goalless first half, forward Michael Mellon gave the Clarets the lead four minutes after the restart before goals from substitutes Seb Thompson and Kade Ratchford sealed the win.

The game was a first competitive one for the Clarets since 28th November 2022 when they beat Stoke City in the Premier League Cup.

U21 REPORT: BURNLEY 3-0 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY - Image 1

With six changes to the lineup from that night, Keelan Williams came into the side against the Owls as he made his return from injury. Alex Healy-Byrne meanwhile dropped out.

Jez Davies also started for the first time having joined the Club in December, appearing as a trialist in the victory against the Potters back in November.

Lewis Thomas, Benn Ward, Joe Bauress and Owen Dodgson also all returned to the 11.

First Half

Burnley started the better of the two sides and only an acrobatic save from Owls goalkeeper Luke Jackson kept out a Joe Bauress half-volley early on.

U21 REPORT: BURNLEY 3-0 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY - Image 2

The hosts went close oncemore moments later as striker Mellon beat Jackson to the ball in the air, but saw his header bounce just wide. Chances continued to come with Mellon again denied by the ‘keeper soon after.

Neil Thompson’s Wednesday gradually worked their way into the game, the nearest they came to a goal a free-kick from Bobby Dunn which was well saved by Thomas in the Clarets goal.

Just before the break, Burnley winger Marcel Lewis took down a cross-field pass well before cutting inside sharply to get the better of his marker, but found the hands of Jackson with his shot.

Second Half

Seeing an effort kept out by Jackson moments earlier, Mellon would take his second chance of the second half to put Burnley in front four minutes after the restart. The Clarets pressing to win the ball back told when midfielder Bauress intercepted a short pass out of defence to play the ball into the frontman, and he slotted under the ‘keeper with a trademark finish.

U21 REPORT: BURNLEY 3-0 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY - Image 3

A quiet 20 minutes followed with Burnley dominating the majority of the ball before Welsh youth international Williams struck a low effort at goal that Jackson held onto.

And after Ne-Jai Tucker’s strike from the edge of the area was tipped over by the busy Owls ‘keeper, the Clarets doubled their lead with five minutes to go. Substitute Thompson drove a low effort from distance which bounced into the bottom corner.

CHANGES FOR FA YOUTH CUP TIE & U21s GAME TOMORROW - Image 1

Burnley put the game beyond doubt with a minute to go through another substitute in Ratchford, as he pressed to snatch the ball from Wednesday centre-half Fuad Sesay before placing the ball calmly past Jackson.

The win makes it back-to-back league victories for the U21 side, following their three points against Barnsley with the same scoreline back in November.

They are now back in action this Friday – 13th January – when they face Swansea City in their penultimate Premier League Cup group game at the Lancashire FA County Ground in Leyland (2pm KO).

Burnley: Thomas, Williams, Ward ©, Trialist, Dodgson, Lewis, Davies (Ratchford ‘74), Bauress, Tucker, Torraj (Thompson ‘74), Mellon

Unused Subs: Moss, McCullough, Turner

Sheffield Wednesday: Jackson, Rodrigues, Sesay, Ashman, Alimi-Adetoro, Dunn, Davidson, Dawkins, Trialist, Glover, Aguas

Subs: Trueman, Phillips, Durrant, Sterling-Rhule, Fernandes

Goals: Mellon, 49’, Thompson, 85’, Ratchford, ‘89