U21S MATCH REPORT: SHEFFIELD UNITED 1-0 BURNLEY

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Winning run comes to an end in Yorkshire

2024-10-01T11:00:00.000Z

U21S MATCH REPORT: SHEFFIELD UNITED 1-0 BURNLEY

Winning run comes to an end in Yorkshire

2024-10-01T11:00:00.000Z

Winning run comes to an end in Yorkshire

Burnley U21s produced a performance full of steel against their Sheffield United counterparts but were narrowly beaten by a goal to nil on Tuesday afternoon.

Ismaila Coulibaly struck 10 minutes into the second half at the LNER Community Stadium to extend the Blades’ winning run to six and end the Clarets’ run of three straight victories.

There were four changes from the side that beat Crewe Alexandra last time out, with Lewis Forshaw returning in goal.

Centre-back Jesse Williams made his first formal start since joining the Club, while Alex Healy-Byrne slotted in at right-back and Joe Westley started following a spell on loan at Rochdale.

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

A tentative start saw the first shot of the game come in the 11th minute, but Sheffield United’s Alfie Atherton could only fire wide of the left-hand post.

Both teams were intent on pressing the other high up the pitch and that almost paid off for Will Hugill, but the Clarets midfielder’s shot was too high after winning back possession.

Forshaw was called into action shortly after the half hour mark, doing well to react and save an Owen Hampson effort having lost the ball.

The only other first-half moment of note came in stoppage-time, when Blades left-back Harry Boyes fired narrowly wide of a post.

United started on the front foot after the break and Coulibaly scored the only goal of the afternoon with a powerful effort into the top left corner from 20 yards with 55 on the clock.

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

Farrell looked to his bench for attacking impetus soon after, with Brandon Ly, Tommy McDermott and Kamarni Ryan all coming on in a triple change.

Those fresh legs ensured that the Clarets’ press remained high and recent addition Hamzat Balogun came on in a last throw of the dice 12 minutes from time.

It was Ryan who came closest to finding an equaliser, but the in-form forward dragged his effort wide from the edge of the area.

The result means Burnley stay 3rd in the Professional Development League North table, having taken 11 points from eight matches.

Next up is a trip to Luton Town’s Kenilworth Road on Friday 4th October in the Premier League Cup, where kick-off is 7pm.

Burnley: Forshaw, Healy-Byrne, Ward, Campbell, Williams (Ly 63), Bauress, Masara (Ryan 63), Hugill (McDermott 63), Westley (Balogun 78), Tweedy, Grant

Unused Substitutes: Vilar Robinson

Sheffield United: Molyneux, Waldron, Boyes, Coulibaly, Tahir, Sasnauskas, Tinsdale (Trialist 81), Easton, Atherton Francis (Francis 63), Hampson, Aston (Cummings 78)

Unused Substitutes: Hewitson, Reid

Goals: Coulibaly 55’