U23 REPORT: BURNLEY 1-1 WOLVES

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Clarets secure first point as Kevin Long makes successful comeback

2021-09-10T20:54:28.939Z

U23 REPORT: BURNLEY 1-1 WOLVES

Clarets secure first point as Kevin Long makes successful comeback

2021-09-10T20:54:28.939Z

Clarets secure first point as Kevin Long makes successful comeback

The Clarets secured their first point of the season in PL2 as Kevin Long stepped up his return from injury.

Long played for just over an hour at Turf Moor as he made a welcome first competitive appearance since mid-February.

The defender came through unscathed and had been replaced as scheduled for the final half-hour which brought both goals.

Burnley went ahead through Max Thompson’s penalty in the 76th-minute but, crucially, couldn’t hold onto the lead for more than three minutes as the visitors swiftly hit back through Luke Cundle to deny the Clarets their opening win.

Michael Jackson’s men were certainly worthy of some reward, though, after starting and finishing strongly in an entertaining game as they ended their three-game losing run since the start of the league campaign in front of an appreciative crowd at Turf Moor.

U23 REPORT: BURNLEY 1-1 WOLVES - Image 1

“It was great for the lads to play here under the lights,” said Under-23s’ boss Michael Jackson.

“There were some really good performances in there and I’m just disappointed for the group that they couldn’t get all three points.

“It took us a while to get going in the second half and keep doing what we had done before half time, but we made a lot of chances and kept going right to the end.

“The one frustration was the goal we conceded. That probably wouldn’t have happened if Kevin Long had still been out there but it was good for him to get an hour, as planned, and there were lots of pleasing things.”

The Clarets had won their mid-week Central League Cup tie against Rochdale with two injury-time goals.

And back on league duty they picked up where they had left off against a Wolves side which had won two of their opening three games.

U23 REPORT: BURNLEY 1-1 WOLVES - Image 2

All the early openings came Burnley’s way with Lewis Richardson having two early sights of goal, the second from a delightful pass from Anthony Gomez-Mancini which the striker hit wide.

Thompson volleyed over following an Owen Dodgson free-kick before Michael Mellon just failed to lift an effort over Wolves’ keeper Jamie Partingdon and Ne-Jai Tucker fired wide.

Wolves’ only chance before the break fell to Kai Corbett but the visitors then dominated for a spell after half-time.

Clarets’ keeper Sam Waller was called into action to make sharp saves from Corbett, Lewis Richards and Owen Hesketh, whose deflected effort brought the best out of the Burnley teenager.

Having ridden out that spell of pressure, Burnley then went in front. Another fantastic pass from the classy Gomez-Mancini released substitute Sam Unwin and when he was clipped by Pardington, Thompson rammed home the resultant penalty.

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The hosts were only a quarter of an hour from victory but after Gomez-Mancini was robbed, Wolves broke clear to level through ex-Clarets’ academy youngster Cundle, who still had plenty to do to work his way through Burnley’s defence.

The visitors had one more chance to snatch all three points as Waller had to save from Lee Harkin.

But it was Burnley who finished on the front foot and Mellon and Mark Helm both went close to turning one point into three.

Burnley: Waller; Vaughan, Long (Rooney 64), Bedeau, Dodgson; Thompson (Hugill 84), Helm, Gomez-Mancini, Tucker; Mellon, Richardson (Unwin 64). Substitutes: Thomas, Armstrong.

Wolves: Pardington; Scott, Estrada, Nya; Birtwistle, Cundle, Griffiths (Hubner 83), Richards; Corbett (Harkin 76), Hesketh; Carty. Substitutes: O’Shaughnessy, Kandola, Roberts.

Referee: Thomas Parsons

Attendance: 401