U21 REPORT: BURNLEY 3-4 CREWE ALEXANDRA

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Ten-man Clarets fall to narrow defeat against Railwaymen

2023-01-24T16:17:02.276Z

U21 REPORT: BURNLEY 3-4 CREWE ALEXANDRA

Ten-man Clarets fall to narrow defeat against Railwaymen

2023-01-24T16:17:02.276Z

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

Burnley’s U21s side were beaten 4-3 by Crewe Alexandra in an action-packed affair in the Professional Development League at the Burnley Training Centre.

The Clarets raced into a two-goal lead as Kade Ratchford and Marcel Lewis both found the back of the net, though visitors Crewe hit back with two quickfire goals of their own through Connor Evans to send the sides in level at the break.

And after going back ahead shortly after the restart through Seb Thompson, goalkeeper Denis Franchi was sent off, with the Alex completing a comeback to take all three points late on.

Three changes were made to the Burnley side that drew with Swansea in their last outing – a 3-3 draw in the Premier League Cup – as Jack Turner returned at centre-back for his first appearance of 2023.

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

Renaldo Torraj also returned to the side in place of Michael Mellon – who sealed a loan move to Sky Bet League One side Morecambe last week – and Ratchford came in from the off to replace Joe Bauress.

First Half

In what was the Clarets’ first league outing since 9th January, neither side carved out a real opportunity in the opening stages.

Crewe’s Joel Tabiner shot straight at Franchi before Lewis and Thompson both brought saves out of Railwaymen stopper Dave Richards at the other end, and Burnley’s pressure told 24 minutes in with the opener.

Owen Dodgson drove down the left-hand side before firing against an Alex defender, and that touch diverted the ball into the path of Ratchford to place into an empty net.

‘Keeper Richards then kept out efforts Ne-Jai Tucker and Lewis, with the Clarets adding a second shortly after with a moment of magic from the latter. The tricky winger worked space on the edge of the area to fire into the top corner, making it 2-0.

Clarets on the road again with Monday night trip to Tigers

Michael Jackson’s Railwaymen began to work their way back into the half and were back in the game when Evans grabbed his first from the penalty spot on 39 minutes. Before the interval, Evans had netted his second and levelled things up, rounding Franchi to tap home from a well-weighted through ball to him.

Second Half

Overcoming that setback, Burnley recovered to get themselves back ahead just two minutes after the restart. Ratchford’s drive through midfielder allowed him to pick out Lewis on the left wing, and when he brought a smart stop out of Richards, makeshift forward Thompson was there to convert the rebound at close range.

Centre back Turner blocked a strike away superbly to deny Crewe a leveller in the moments which followed that goal, but the Clarets would soon be down to 10 with 35 minutes left to play.

U21 REPORT: BURNLEY 3-4 CREWE ALEXANDRA - Image 3

Italian Franchi came out of his box to win the ball, and had appeared to do just that, but was adjudged to have fouled a Crewe forward with a high foot, subsequently sent off by the referee.

Renaldo Torraj came close to putting Burnley further in front, but was denied by Richards, and Crewe themselves almost levelled through Evans.

Callum Ainley did find the equaliser for Crewe however, scoring directly a free-kick as he fired past substitute ‘keeper Lewis Forshaw from distance.

Burnley then hit the post twice in quick succession through Torraj and Dodgson, who had rounded Richards, but it would be the visitors who took the points in the end.

U21 REPORT: BURNLEY 3-4 CREWE ALEXANDRA - Image 4

Late on, Dodgson was adjudged to have fouled Evans in the area as Crewe were awarded a second penalty. Striker Evans stepped up himself and completed his hat-trick, making it 4-3 and handing the Alex a lead for the first time in the game.

A couple of late chances fell to substitute Rohan Vaughan, making his first U21s appearance, but he couldn’t find the target.

The U21s are back in action next Tuesday – January 31st – when they face Arsenal away from home in their final Premier League Cup Group Stage fixture (7pm KO).

Burnley: Franchi, Williams, Ward ©, Turner, Dodgson, Torraj, Davies, Ratchford (Forshaw ‘57), Lewis, Tucker, Thompson (Vaughan ‘81)

Unused Subs: Trialist, Sweeney, McCullough

Crewe Alexandra: Richards, Bhatti, Woodthorpe, Tabiner, Kempster-Down, Crolla, Amoo, Finnigan, Evans, Ainley, Holicek

Subs: Sant, Flint, Finney, Webster, Woodcock

Goals: Ratchford, ‘24, Lewis, ‘37, Evans ‘39, ’42 & ‘84, Thompson, ‘47, Ainley ‘66