U21S MATCH REPORT: FULHAM 8

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U21S MATCH REPORT: FULHAM 8 - 0 BURNLEY

Young U21s side suffer defeat to the Cottagers

2023-11-10T13:00:00.000Z

U21S MATCH REPORT: FULHAM 8 - 0 BURNLEY

Young U21s side suffer defeat to the Cottagers

2023-11-10T13:00:00.000Z

Young U21s side suffer defeat to the Cottagers

Burnley’s U21s fell to their first defeat in the Premier League Cup this season after a Chris Donnell hat-trick, Luke Harris brace and strikes from Luciano D’Auria-Henry, Aaron Loupalo-Bi and Georgios Okkas sealed all three points for the hosts against Andy Farrell’s side which included four youth team players in the starting line-up.

The Clarets made seven changes from the side that beat Sheffield United last weekend, with a number of first team players involved last Saturday.

Four U18s started for Burnley, as Charlie Casper, Murray Campbell, Joe Ashton, Adam McCoy, Healy-Byrne, Callum West and Tom Tweedy all came into the XI at Motspur Park.

First Half

Fulham got off to the best possible start with only two minutes on the clock when D’Auria-Henry’s low cross into the area was turned home by Loupalo-Bi from close range.

Following a frantic start in west London, the game settled down and the Clarets began to apply some pressure on the home side and look to find an equaliser.

But with half-an-hour played it was the Cottagers who struck again as Harris broke into the area and fired in past Casper to give the hosts a two-goal advantage.

U21S MATCH REPORT: FULHAM 8 - 0 BURNLEY - Image 1

Five minutes later, Fulham extended their lead and had a third of the night when Esenga whipped in a cross from the left to his fellow full-back D’Auria-Henry to head home.

The Clarets looked for a way back into it when Aston picked out Westley inside the area but the striker’s looping header landed on the roof of the net.

Second Half

Fulham started the second half on the front foot and came close to adding a fourth of the night when Gordon cut inside onto his left foot and struck the crossbar with a stinging effort.

However, just two minutes later the hosts did have their fourth and Harris had his second after finding the bottom corner from 25-yards-out.

Just past the hour mark, the Clarets made a double change as U18 duo West and McCoy made way for Rogers and Le Fondre, with the London side also making a double switch.

The Cottagers snatched a fifth though three minutes after the changes for both sides and it was an instant impact from Fulham substitute Chris Donnell who headed in past Casper.

U21S MATCH REPORT: FULHAM 8 - 0 BURNLEY - Image 2

Burnley’s night went from bad to worse when Donnell then grabbed his second and Fulham’s sixth shortly after before sealing his hat-trick in the 75th minute with a header from a corner.

Cottagers midfielder Okkas then slotted in an eighth of the night late on.

Burnley: Casper, Healy-Byrne, Sassi, Campbell, Ashton, West (Rogers 65), Hugill, Davies, Tweedy, McCoy (Le Fondre 65), Westley

Unused substitutes: Moss, Trialist

Fulham: McNally, D’Auria-Henry (Tanton HT), Esenga, Odutayo, Williams, Pajaziti, Lanquedoc, Okkas, Loupalo-Bi (Donnell 65), Harris (Sekularac 65), Gordon

Unused substitutes: Borto, Araujo

Goals: Loupalo-Bi 3’, Harris 30’, D’Auria-Henry 35’, Harris 54’, Donnell 68’, Donnell 71’, Donnell 76’, Okkas 80'