U21 REPORT: PETERBOROUGH UNITED 4-1 BURNLEY

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Youthful Clarets side loses out to Posh in Cambridgeshire

2022-11-08T10:00:00.000Z

U21 REPORT: PETERBOROUGH UNITED 4-1 BURNLEY

Youthful Clarets side loses out to Posh in Cambridgeshire

2022-11-08T10:00:00.000Z

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With seven of the youth team involved, Burnley’s U21 side fell to a 4-1 defeat against an experienced-looking Peterborough United at the idVerde Training Ground in Cambridgeshire in Professional Development League action.

A clever finish from Michael Mellon proved only a consolation as goals from Joel Randall, Joe Taylor, David Ajiboye and Hector Kyprianou saw the hosts take the three points in treacherous conditions.

The Clarets made six changes from last week’s loss at home to Hull City with Lewis Thomas, Will Hugill, Finn Armstrong, Kade Ratchford and Renaldo Torraj – who came in for his first start since signing for the club – all starting against the Posh.

Hugill and Armstrong are both currently out on youth loans, but as allowed in the terms of those deals, featured for the U21s with the loan Clubs not having a midweek fixture. There was also a debut from the start handed to U18 Wiktor Gromek.

Updates to youth team’s schedule

Denis Franchi, Alex Healy-Byrne, Owen Dodgson, Joe Bauress, Seb Thompson and Marcel Lewis were the players to drop out, with the bench completely made up of players from the Clarets U18s side in Cambridgeshire.

Posh meanwhile named first-team players Kyprianou, Ben Thompson, Ajiboye and Randall – son of ex-Claret Adrian - in their starting 11.

First Half

The hosts started the better of the two sides, with the first chance of the game falling to senior winger Ajiboye. Full back James Dornelly whipped a cross into the middle of the area, but Ajiboye could only head over.

And Posh’s early chances would prove decisive as they took the lead on 16 minutes via Randall. Attacking midfielder Kellan Hickinson fed the attacker inside the box, and he beat his marker before whipping the ball into the top corner of the net.

Peterborough continued to have a grip on the game and were creating the better chances. Back-to-back opportunities came midway through the half, first through defender Ashton Fox – who stayed up following a set-piece – to volley over before Thompson then worked space on the edge to fire an effort over.

Burnley gradually began to work their way back into the contest and had an opportunity to level the game when Mellon latched onto an inch-perfect through pass from captain Mark Helm inside the area. The forward rounded Posh shot stopper Will Lakin, and got a strike away, but saw it cleared off the line by a sliding Dornelly.

Helm also sent a free-kick over the bar after Ratchford had been felled on the edge of the box, proving the last chance of a damp first half.

Second Half

Matthew Etherington’s Posh started the second 45 as quickly as they did the first, and Taylor curled in a second for the hosts just seven minutes post-restart with a shot which nestled into the top corner.

Chances were again few and far between in what seemed a close game despite the scoreline for the next 20 minutes before the hosts went close to adding a third through Thompson, only a last-ditch block from Brad Grant prevented that from happening.

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Soon after however, the third came via Ajiboye. After Taylor flicked fellow goalscorer Randall’s pass into the path of the winger, he made no mistake one-on-one with Thomas in slotting home.

‘Keeper Thomas then held a powerful effort from substitute Lewis Darlington before Burnley managed to get themselves on the scoresheet through Mellon.

Centre back Jack Turner got on the ball and played an expertly placed defence-splitting pass through to the striker, who was pushed wide by an onrushing Lakin as defenders tracked back, but he still managed to find the back of the net with a pinpoint lob over the ‘keeper.

Before any comeback could even begin to come to fruition, Posh stopped any momentum with a fourth of their own six minutes from time, and it came from the boot of senior head Kyprianou.

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A youth international with Cyprus, Kyprianou fired past Thomas to round off a free-flowing move upfield.

The defeat is the Clarets’ first away from home since August, and they return home next week at Turf Moor against Barnsley on Monday 14th November (2pm KO).

You can come and back the boys with unreserved seating in the Bob Lord Stand and free entry for Season Ticket holders upon showing of their card at the turnstiles.

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Non-Season Ticket holders can purchase a ticket from the Turf Moor ticket office on the day for the price of £4 (adults) / £2 (over 65s & under 18s). The ticket office will be open from 9am ahead of the 2pm kick-off.

Burnley: Thomas, Hugill, Armstrong, Turner, Grant, Helm © (West ’78), Gromek (Westley ’67), Torraj, Ratchford (Bryan ’85), Tucker, Mellon

Unused Subs: Moss, James

Peterborough United: Lakin, Dornelly (Arthur ’77), Powell (Titchmarsh ’77), Kyprianou, Thomas ©, Fox, Ajiboye, Thompson (McCann ’77), Taylor, Hickinson (Darlington ’55), Randall

Unused Sub: Laycock

Goals: Randall ’16, Taylor ’52, Ajiboye ’72, Mellon ’80, Kyprianou ‘84