U21 REPORT: SHEFFIELD UNITED 4-0 BURNLEY

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Senior figures gain minutes at Bramall Lane as Clarets beaten by Blades

2023-03-21T16:39:52.159Z

U21 REPORT: SHEFFIELD UNITED 4-0 BURNLEY

Senior figures gain minutes at Bramall Lane as Clarets beaten by Blades

2023-03-21T16:39:52.159Z

FARRELL WANTS U21s TO LEARN FROM BLADES DEFEAT - Image 2

Senior figures played minutes as Burnley’s U21 side lost out 4-0 to league leaders Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

There were six changes to the Clarets side that was defeated 3-0 at Barnsley a week ago. Dan Sassi captained the side, partnering Taylor Harwood-Bellis at the back who again started as he continues his recovery from injury.

Meanwhile, Republic of Ireland international Enda Stevens was named in the hosts’ lineup with Louie Marsh & Will Osula two of the attacking options. Both have featured in senior football this season.

First Half

Denis Franchi endured a busy opening 45 minutes against a Blades side unbeaten in the Professional Development League since November.

FARRELL WANTS U21s TO LEARN FROM BLADES DEFEAT - Image 3

He kept out a low-driven free-kick from captain Sydie Peck early on with Connor Barratt glancing over from the resulting corner.

Oliver Arblaster and Osula both also fired wide for the hosts from inside the area before the latter headed home the opener at point-blank range from Marsh’s cross.

Soon after, Antwoine Hackford guided a header over from a cross which came from the opposite side, while Halil Dervişoğlu saw goalkeeper Marcus Dewhurst get the better of him one-on-one at the other end.

Joe Bauress then saw a shot at the edge of the box blocked away, and the outstretched leg of a Blades defender denied Scott Twine a tap in from Dervişoğlu’s intricate pass.

HARWOOD-BELLIS READY FOR RETURN - Image 1

Franchi was again called into action on a couple of occasions prior to the break, first making a double save to keep out close range efforts from both Sai Sachdev & Osula before going on to parry away a long-range strike by Marsh which was eventually cleared away by Sassi.

Second Half

The Italian ‘keeper had to react well early on in the second half to keep out Marsh’s low strike, but could do nothing to prevent Kyron Gordon’s header doubling United’s advantage just before the hour-mark as the defender glanced home Peck’s free-kick.

Searching for a route back into the contest, Dervişoğlu showed nice feet inside the box to tee up Manuel Benson, but the Belgian’s goalward effort was blocked behind in his last action of note before being withdrawn in a planned change.

Harwood-Bellis headed wide from a Twine corner minutes later, but Osula grabbed his second with a half volley at close range on the 70-minute mark and made it 3-0.

Midfielder Marsh scuffed wide from Sachdev’s pull-back, with Franchi denying Hackford one-on-one, before the former added a fourth with a glancing header.

BENSON DETERMINED TO PLAY HIS PART - Image 1

And as the clock ticked into time added on at the end of the game, Twine at the other end brought a good save out of Dewhurst with a free-kick.

The U21s are now back in action on Monday afternoon – 27th March – against Peterborough United at the Burnley Training Centre (3pm KO).

Burnley: Franchi, K. Williams, Harwood-Bellis (Turner ’77), Sassi ©, Taylor, Bauress, Bastien, Twine, Benson (Grant ’60), Dervişoğlu, Thompson (Westley ’77)

Unused Subs: Moss, Davies

Sheffield United: Dewhurst, Sachdev, Stevens (Buyabu HT), Gordon, Barratt, Freckleton, Arblaster (L. Williams ’76), Marsh, Osula (Smith ’70), Hackford, Peck ©

Unused Subs: Faxon, Havenhand

Goals: Osula, ’21, Gordon, ’57, Osula, ’70, Marsh, ‘73