U21 REPORT: SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 1-4 BURNLEY

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Clarets make it three on the bounce with victory from behind against the Owls

2022-09-12T14:15:32.091Z

U21 REPORT: SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 1-4 BURNLEY

Clarets make it three on the bounce with victory from behind against the Owls

2022-09-12T14:15:32.091Z

U21 PREVIEW: BURNLEY V SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY - Image 3

Burnley’s U21 side recorded a third straight victory in the Professional Development League, coming from behind away against Sheffield Wednesday to run out 4-1 winners.

Michael Mellon netted an equaliser on his return from injury, with Ne-Jai Tucker firing the Clarets ahead before the break. Joe Westley and Dara Costelloe then struck within 60 seconds of one another towards the end of the contest to add a comfortable feel to the latter stages.

Four changes were made to the starting 11 from a 4-3 win against Ipswich Town last time out as Sam Waller returned in goal to replace Denis Franchi, and Benn Ward came in at centre back with Finn Armstrong dropping to the bench.

Ward was partnered by Dan Sassi, who captained Burnley in the absence of Mark Helm. The midfielder was replaced by Will Hugill while Mellon came in for a first taste of league action in six months with Joe McGlynn now with Oldham Athletic on a month-long youth loan.

Before kick-off, the two sides and all present at the Eco Power Stadium – home of non-league side Stocksbridge Park Steels – held a minute’s silence in memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Clarets home game against Reds postponed

First Half

Starting the slower, Burnley found themselves behind five minutes in when Mackenzie Maltby headed home the opener for Wednesday from a corner.

Sean Fusire also fired a half volley wide of the mark from another set piece for the hosts shortly afterwards, before the Clarets worked their way into the game.

Alex Healy-Byrne helped to carve out a first opportunity of the contest, threading Costelloe in behind with an inch-perfect through ball, but the forward’s cross was cleared off the toe of Marcel Lewis by an Owls defender.

Captain Sassi then had to react well at the other end to block Leojo Davidson’s goalward-bound shot on 17 minutes, and two minutes later it was 1-1 with Mellon showing the clinical nature all within the Clarets academy have become accustomed to with a calm finish one-on-one having been threaded through on goal.

On the half-hour mark, Sassi then recovered to clear off the line after ‘keeper Waller had seen a clearance charged down, while the hosts had the ball in the back of the net moments later but saw what would have been Maltby’s second chalked off for offside.

Having had that wake up call, Burnley got themselves on the front foot and ensured they would have the lead going into the break thanks to Tucker seven minutes prior to the half-time whistle.

Carving out some space for himself on the edge of the box, the winger opened up his body and curled the ball past Wednesday shot stopper Luke Jackson to make it 2-1.

Before the whistle went for the interval though, both sides would have chances as Mellon saw a low-driven strike held before Will Trueman rattled the underside of the crossbar at the other end.

Second Half

Costelloe took aim at goal directly from the restart, and almost caught out Jackson who was scrambling but breathed a sigh of relief when the ball dipped over rather than under his crossbar.

U21 REPORT: SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 1-4 BURNLEY - Image 2

The Irishman then came close again on 56 minutes, latching onto a long ball upfield from Waller to guide a shot narrowly over from an acute angle.

U18 Westley replaced Mellon shortly after and was involved instantly, doing well to hold the ball up inside the area and laying off to Healy-Byrne whose attempt was skewed wide.

And after Costelloe had gone close oncemore, Westley eventually eased any nerves with the Clarets third on 77 minutes. Well taken, the striker received the ball at the edge of the box from Tucker and flicked over his marker’s head before smashing home through Jackson’s legs.

Getting in on the act, Costelloe then grabbed the goal his performance had deserved less than 60 seconds later, entering into a ‘Goal of the Game’ contest with Westley.

Flicking the ball over a defender’s head not once but twice inside the area, Costelloe resembled a juggling act before composing himself and bringing it back under control to curl past Jackson at close range.

Prior to the end of the game, Burnley made a trio of changes which came during a lengthy stoppage as Wednesday substitute Luke Cook required treatment and was eventually replaced having left the field on a stretcher. Everyone at the Club would like to wish Luke all the best for a speedy recovery.

That stoppage, and others beforehand, culminated in to six minutes of time added on at the end of the second half but the Clarets saw the game out with little trouble to the backline.

The U21s are scheduled to return to action next Monday – September 19 – against Barnsley at the LFA County Ground in a 19:00 kick-off. However, with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral scheduled that day, the Club will update supporters as soon as possible as to whether that game will be re-arranged.

Burnley: Waller, Healy-Byrne, Sassi, Ward (Armstrong ’84), Dodgson, Lewis (Ratchford ’84), Hugill (Deane ’84), Bauress, Tucker (Westley ’64), Mellon, Costelloe

Unused Sub: Moss

Sheffield Wednesday: Jackson, Fusire, Agbontohoma, Maltby, Adetoro (Sesay ’60), Aguas, Glover, Trialist (Shipston ’69), Davidson, Trueman (Cook ’69 – Phuthi ’87), Cadamarteri

Unused Sub: Phillips

Goals: Maltby, ‘5, Mellon, ’19, Tucker, ’38, Westley, ’77, Costelloe, ‘78