U21 REPORT: READING 2-0 BURNLEY

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Defeat for Clarets in first away game of season at Reading

2022-08-15T16:15:00.000Z

U21 REPORT: READING 2-0 BURNLEY

Defeat for Clarets in first away game of season at Reading

2022-08-15T16:15:00.000Z

Midfielder makes permanent switch to Brewers

Burnley’s U21 side lost out 2-0 to Reading in their first away game of the season in the Professional Development League.

Two goals within the opening 21 minutes from Jahmari Clarke and Basil Tuma were enough to earn three points for the Royals at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

Officially joining the Clarets just hours prior to kick-off, midfielder Frankie Deane was named as a substitute. Elsewhere, Ne-Jai Tucker returned to start alongside Finn Armstrong, who made his own comeback from a hamstring injury.

Benn Ward was also brought into the starting 11, while Jacson Coppack dropped to the bench. 16-year-old Joe Bauress again started in midfield.

First Half

After an opening to the game which had seen Burnley applying pressure without really troubling Reading goalkeeper Coniah Boyce-Clarke, it was the hosts who took the lead nine minutes in.

Frontman Clarke – who scored twice for the Royals first-team in 12 Sky Bet Championship appearances last season - got the opener, firing home from close range having been threaded through on goal by Claudio Osorio.

Looking to hit back, Burnley then saw Tucker’s goalbound free-kick tipped around the post by Boyce-Clarke, with Lewis Richardson heading over from the resulting corner.

But at the other end on 21 minutes, Reading then doubled their advantage through Tuma, who scrambled the ball home from a set-piece routine following a collision with Clarets ‘keeper Sam Waller.

Armstrong and Richardson were both denied at point-blank range by Boyce-Clarke after the first half drinks break, but the hosts maintained their two-goal lead come the interval.

Second Half

Waller had to be alert to deny Clarke a second of the afternoon shortly after the restart, scrambling across his box to deny the forward following a mixup at the back.

Coming close again, Tucker then rattled the crossbar with another free-kick as Burnley continued to search for a route back into the contest before Tuma’s downward header bounced inches over the bar at the other end.

Republic of Ireland youth international Deane, 17, was introduced from the bench for his debut just after the hour-mark, alongside Will Hugill.

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Noel Hunt’s hosts went close again through their own substitute in Hamid Abdel Salam with little over 20 minutes remaining, who dragged a shot wide to scupper a counter attack.

And despite the introduction of another substitute in Coppack to add to the Clarets pressure, no breakthrough could be found.

Burnley now return to action next Monday – August 22 – hosting Queens Park Rangers at the County Ground in Leyland with a 13:00 (BST) kick-off. Admission is free to Clarets season ticket holders, who will also be able to redeem a complimentary drink of their choice courtesy of the Club.

Burnley: Waller, Armstrong, Sassi, Ward, McCullough (Deane ’62), Helm ©, Bauress (Hugill ’62), Tucker, Ratchford (Coppack ’77), Richardson, McGlynn

Unused Subs: Thomas, Westley

Reading: Boyce-Clarke, Abrefa (Paul ’67), John Clarke, Craig, Burnett, Holzman ©, Tuma, Osorio (Abdel Salam ’56), Melvin-Lambert, Camara, Jahmari Clarke (Akande ’74)

Unused Subs: Norcott, Kanu

Goals: Jahmari Clarke, ‘9, Tuma, ‘21