U21S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 0-1 SHEFFIELD UNITED

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Young Clarets fall to narrow defeat

2025-01-07T23:26:55.987Z

U21S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 0-1 SHEFFIELD UNITED

Young Clarets fall to narrow defeat

2025-01-07T23:26:55.987Z

Young Clarets fall to narrow defeat

A pinpoint free-kick was the difference between the two sides as Burnley U21s lost out to their Sheffield United counterparts on Tuesday night.

It was a much-changed line up from the one that finished 2024 in emphatic fashion against Hull City, with Charlie Casper starting in goal.

Murray Campbell returned at the heart of the defence as the terms of his loan to Chorley allow, with Brandon Ly and Tom Tweedy forming the pair in midfield.

Further forwards, Hamzat Balogun pushed forward onto the right flank to the side of Kamarni Ryan and Joe Westley.

U21S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 0-1 SHEFFIELD UNITED - Image 1

The Blades made the perfect start, with Harry Boyes curling a 20-yard free-kick over the Clarets wall and into the bottom right corner with just two minutes on the clock.

In truth it was a first half of few chances and the young Clarets forced their first effort in the 24th minute, when Westley pounced on a defensive mistake and his powerful shot was saved behind.

Healy-Byrne was next to work Blades ‘keeper Luke Faxon and, at the other end, Casper did well to tip a Jevan Beattie effort onto the bar to keep the half-time deficit at one.

The first second-half action of note saw Casper produce a fine double save with his legs at his near post to deny Marshall Francis just after the hour.

U21S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 0-1 SHEFFIELD UNITED - Image 2

Manager Andy Farell then turned to his bench twice in quick succession, with Ryan Tioffo replacing João Mendes before Logan Pye made way for Charlie Veevers.

Another change saw Basilio Socoliche come on for Brandon Ly and the young Clarets rallied in search of an equaliser in the final 10 minutes.

After Veevers shot over from the edge of the area Ryan forced our best opportunity with a step over or two, but his effort flew over the angle of post and bar.

The result, which ends a run of four matches unbeaten, leaves Burnley 3rd in the Professional Development League North section with 29 points from 16 matches.

Sheffield United stay top of the table with 36 points courtesy off 11 wins and three draws.

Burnley: Casper, Healy-Byrne, Ashton, Pye (Veevers 68), Campbell, Ly (Socoliche 81), Mendes (Tioffo 65), Tweedy, Westley, Ryan, Balogun

Unused Substitutes: Vilar Robinson, Jordison

Sheffield United: Faxon, Waldron, Boyes (Giggs 78), Reid, Tahir, Sasnauskas, Curtis (Colechin 77), Aston, Beattie (Eyob-Abraha 85), Cummings (Atherton 85), Francis

Unused Substitutes: Molyneux

Goals: Boyes 2’