U21S MATCH REPORT: READING 1-3 BURNLEY

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Young Clarets extend perfect Premier League Cup record

2024-11-08T22:37:25.906Z

U21S MATCH REPORT: READING 1-3 BURNLEY

Young Clarets extend perfect Premier League Cup record

2024-11-08T22:37:25.906Z

Young Clarets extend perfect Premier League Cup record

Goals from Murray Campbell, Tom Tweedy and Joe Westley earned Burnley U21s a 3-1 victory over Reading in the Premier League Cup on Friday evening.

Andy Farrell’s side have won all three matches in the competition and sit top of Group G with nine points, three clear of Luton Town.

Lewis Forshaw was given the opportunity to keep goal in Berkshire, with Alex-Healy-Byrne and Joe Ashton returning at right and left back respectively.

Charlie Veevers started for the first time in just over six weeks in centre midfield, while Kamarni Ryan and Tweedy played on the right and in the middle of the three behind striker Joe Westley.

Ryan Tioffo was named on the bench following the conclusion of his loan spell at Wythenshawe, as was second-year scholar Marley Leuluai on his 18th birthday.

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After a quiet start it was Reading who had the first chance of note, but Forshaw was on hand to thwart Tyler Sackey with a fine save in the 14th minute.

Just as they did against Carlisle United earlier this week, Farrell’s side then scored twice in two minutes to take control of the game.

The first came from Campbell, who headed his opening goal of the season at the back post after Benn Ward’s effort from a corner was pushed into his path.

Tweedy was the second man on the score sheet with a cool finish into the bottom left corner, with the Welshman now boasting seven goals in as many matches.

The hosts halved the deficit through Joe Barough, who expertly found the bottom right corner from 22 yards.

It was the Royals who finished the first half the stronger of the two teams and Forshaw had to produce another smart stop to deny Tyler Sackey with 38 on the clock.

Tioffo replaced Vernon Masara before the break.

U21S MATCH REPORT: READING 1-3 BURNLEY - Image 2

Both teams started the second half with a physical edge, resulting in several players finding their way into the referee’s notebook.

As the game approached the 70th minute it became more end to end, and Hamzat Balogun replaced Healy-Byrne for some fresh legs at right-back.

The Clarets were able to ride out the pressure, though, and sealed all three points 12 minutes from time.

After good work from substitute Tioffo, Westley found himself one-one-one with Reading’s Coniah Boyce-Clarke and picked out the bottom right corner for his seventh goal of the campaign.

The result extends the team’s winning run to eight, and the young Clarets have also won 11 of their last 12.

Burnley: Forshaw, Healy-Byrne (Balogun 71), Ashton, Ward, Campbell, Bauress, Ryan (Williams 83), Veevers, Westley, Tweedy (Leuluai 83), Masara (Tioffo 39)

Unused Substitutes: Vilar Robinson

Reading: Boyce-Clarke, Borgnis, Beacroft, Senga-Ngoyi, Stickland, Kanu (Duah 46), Osho, Wellens, Okine-Peters, Sackey, Barough

Unused Substitutes: Norcott, McMillen, Source, George

Goals: Campbell 20’, Tweedy 22’, Barough 34’, Westley 78’