U21S MATCH REPORT: MANCHESTER CITY 8-1 BURNLEY

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Young Clarets well beaten on return to action

2026-01-09T22:08:44.914Z

U21S MATCH REPORT: MANCHESTER CITY 8-1 BURNLEY

Young Clarets well beaten on return to action

2026-01-09T22:08:44.914Z

Young Clarets well beaten on return to action

Burnley U21s came up against a ruthless Manchester City side on Friday night, losing their first game in three weeks 8-1.

Vernon Masara was on target for the young Clarets but the Sky Blues were far too good for Andy Farrell’s side on the night.

It was a youthful starting XI consisting of five U18s, with Joe Wilcock and Luca Scanlon making their first ever U21s appearances at left-back and right midfield respectively.

Charlie Casper started in goal after returning from his loan spell at Grimsby Town, while George Brierley wore the captain’s armband as he did at Queens Park Rangers before Christmas.

U21S MATCH REPORT: MANCHESTER CITY 8-1 BURNLEY - Image 1

After a quiet opening 10 minutes Ellis Clark had the first chance of note, but he couldn’t get the desired connection on Scanlon’s delicate cross.

City then took control with five goals in a blistering 23-minute spell, the first of which saw Reigan Heskey cut in from the left and fire into the bottom right corner.

Heskey then scored on the rebound after a smart save from Casper, before Ashton Muir found himself unmarked at the back post to head in a deep cross.

The next two goals came from the boot of Justin Oboavwoduo. After turning home a Floyd Samba cross from six yards, he beat Casper one-on-one from close range.

The young Clarets were able to pull one back before half-time though, with Masara expertly picking out the bottom corner after a rapid counter led by Brandon Pouani.

Play restarted at a slower tempo and Pouani was the first to work Spike Brits after the break, but the City ‘keeper was up to the challenge.

Farrell turned to his bench on the hour in a triple change that forced a formation swich with Blackie, Scanlon and Johnson making way for Corey King, Marley Leuluai and Charlie Veevers respectively.

U21S MATCH REPORT: MANCHESTER CITY 8-1 BURNLEY - Image 2

Our second-half resistance was then broken with two goals in the space of three minutes. After Mamadou Sangare netted from close range, fellow substitute Matty Warhurst produced a similar finish to make it seven.

Two more Burnley changes saw Tom Tweedy and Braidin Derbyshire replace Wilcock and Masara with only pride to play for in the remaining 14 minutes.

The Cityzens created a handful of half chances before Christian Dunbar-McDonald added extra gloss to the scoreline in stoppage-time at the Joie Stadium.

Burnley’s Premier League 2 record now stands at six points from 10 matches ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s visit to Leyland next week.

Burnley: Casper, Blackie (King 60), Wilcock (Tweedy 76), Campbell, Ashton, Brierley, Scanlon (Leuluai 60), Clark, Masara (Derbyshire 76), Johnson (Veevers 60), Pouani

Manchester City: Brits, Nfonkeu (Dunbar-McDonald 68), Noble, Braithwaite, Naylor, Gray (Fapetu 68), Muir, J. Heskey (Sangare 46), Oboavwoduo (Warhust 68), Samba, R. Heskey

Unused Substitutes: Wint

Goals: R. Heskey 15’, 21’, Muir 30’, Oboavwoduo 35’, 38’, Masara 45+1’, Sangare 67’, Warhurst 70’, Dunbar-McDonald 90+2’