U21S MATCH REPORT: SOUTHAMPTON 2-1 BURNLEY

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Saints edge tight affair on south coast

2025-09-19T21:52:25.394Z

U21S MATCH REPORT: SOUTHAMPTON 2-1 BURNLEY

Saints edge tight affair on south coast

2025-09-19T21:52:25.394Z

Saints edge tight affair on south coast

Burnley U21s rallied late but were unable to prevent a third Premier League 2 defeat of the season, losing 2-1 to Southampton.

17-year-old winger Brandon Pouani came off the bench to net his first U21s goal at St Mary’s Stadium, but it wasn’t enough to cancel out the Saints’ two first-half strikes.

There were three changes to the side that started against Solihull Moors in the National League Cup earlier this week, with recent singing Oisin Cooney making his Burnley debut in goal.

Murray Campell shifted inside to his usual centre-back position with the introduction of U18s right-back Albert Blackie, while fellow second-year scholar George Brierley earned a start in midfield.

Southampton broke the deadlock in the eighth minute when Moses Sesay played a lovely one-two with a team-mate on the edge of the area and dinked the ball over the onrushing Cooney.

U21S MATCH REPORT: SOUTHAMPTON 2-1 BURNLEY - Image 1

Our Irish ‘keeper had more work to do soon afterwards, producing two smart saves with his legs to deny Barnaby Williams and Sutura Kakay.

However, it was 2-0 with 38 on the clock when Romeo Akachukwu picked out the bottom right corner with a curling effort from 18 yards.

Burnley’s best chance of the first half came as it entered five minutes of stoppage-time, but Kian McMahon-Brown’s powerful effort was blocked.

Manager Andy Farrell replaced Jack McEvilly with Jesse Williams at half-time and the Clarets restarted with extra oomph.

After Zach Johnson worked Saints ‘keeper Dylan Moody, McMahon-Brown stabbed another effort wide.

U21S PREVIEW: CARDIFF CITY V BURNLEY - Image 1

Both teams looked to surge forwards at every opportunity, and it could have been 3-0 if it wasn’t for a perfectly-timed goal line clearance from Joe Ashton on the hour.

Farrell freshened things up again 20 minutes from time, introducing Pouani and Charlie Veevers for Ryan and Johnson respectively.

Burnley finished the match by far the stronger of the two teams and their sustained period of pressure paid off in the 88th minute.

Blackie stood an inviting cross up to the back post, and Pouani was on hand to beat the 'keeper with a volley into the bottom left corner.

The Clarets spent the seven minutes of stoppage time at the end of the 90 camped in Southampton’s half but were unable to find the equaliser their second-half display arguably deserved.

As such, they now have three league points from a possible 12 as they head into a two-game week that starts with a trip to Cardiff City in the Premier League Cup.

Burnley: Cooney, Blackie, Pimlott (Leuluai 82), Campbell, Ashton, McEvilly (Williams 46), Johnson (Veevers 70), Brierley, Ryan (Pouani 70), McMahon-Brown, Clark

Unused Substitutes: Chester

Southampton: Moody, Fry, Dobson-Ventura, Okunola (Vallance 75), Sesay, Akachukwu, Oyekunle (Dipepa 75), Tabares (Whittaker 66), Williams (Gathercole 66), Bragg, Kakay

Unused Substitutes: Sainsbury

Goals: Sesay 8’, Akachukwu 38’, Pouani 88’