U21S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 0-1 CHELSEA

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Late heartbreak for young Clarets

2025-10-05T13:00:00.000Z

U21S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 0-1 CHELSEA

Late heartbreak for young Clarets

2025-10-05T13:00:00.000Z

GALLERY: BURNLEY U21S V CHELSEA U21S - Gallery Photo 3

Burnley U21s produced a resilient performance against their in-form Chelsea counterparts on Sunday afternoon, but Jesse Derry’s late header proved to be the difference between the two teams.

There were four changes to the side that started Tuesday’s victory over Barrow in the Lancashire FA Senior Cup, with Oli Pimlott returning at left wing-back.

Ellis Clark and second-year scholar George Brierley slotted into the midfield, while fellow U18 Kian McMahon-Brown joined Kamarni Ryan up top at Burnley Training Centre.

The visitors looked keen to assert themselves in the early stages, with Dujuan Richards cutting in from the right and shooting straight at Oisin Cooney before Samuel Rak-Sakyi’s header hit a post.

U21S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 0-1 CHELSEA - Image 1

There were Burnley claims for a penalty when McMahon-Brown looked to have been prevented from reaching the ball by a pull on the shoulder, but referee James Bancroft disagreed.

Clark almost found the back of the net directly from a corner on the half hour and Chelsea’s Genesis Antwi was later inches from connecting with a ball across goal, but it was goalless at the break.

In a match of few clear-cut chances Clark’s set pieces continued to cause problems, with two more testin Chelsea ‘keeper Max Merrick in and around the 60th minute.

Burnley manager Andy Farrell turned to his bench for the first time in the 66th minute, replacing Joe Bevan with Charlie Veevers.

Fresh from a UEFA Youth League hat trick against Benfica, Shumaira Mheuka should perhaps have opened the scoring here in the 75th minute. He could only turn his header wide, though.

U21S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 0-1 CHELSEA - Image 2

The visitors continued to push forwards and were eventually rewarded with five minutes of regular time remaining.

A deep free-kick from the right was sent back across goal by Harrison Murray-Campbell, and substitute Jesse Derry was on hand to head home from six yards.

Another Burnley roll of the dice saw McMahon-Brown make way for Zach Johnson, and the fourth official announcing seven minutes of added time gave Farrell’s charges and extra spring in their step.

Johnson was able to win a free-kick that gave Veevers a 22-yard shooting chance in the 96th minute, but the former Swansea man could only fire over.

Having not claimed the result their performance perhaps deserved, Burnley sit 24th in the Premier League 2 table with three points from six matches.

The young Clarets now observe the international break before returning to action against Stockport County in the Premier League Cup on Friday 17th October.

Burnley: Cooney, Campbell, Pimlott, Williams, Ashton, McEvilly, Bevan (Veevers 66), Clark, Ryan, Brierley, McMahon-Brown (Johnson 89)

Unused Substitutes: Forshaw, Adekoya, Leuluai

Chelsea: Merrick, Antwi, Murray-Campbell, Wilson, Olise (Best 81), Harrison (McMahon 63), Richards, Rak-Sakyi, Mheuka, Cardoso, Ampah (Derry 56)

Unused Substitutes: Curd, Runham

Goals: Derry 85’