U23s REPORT: BURNLEY 3-2 WBA

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Clarets continue their push for the Play-Offs

2022-04-15T22:00:00.000Z

U23s REPORT: BURNLEY 3-2 WBA

Clarets continue their push for the Play-Offs

2022-04-15T22:00:00.000Z

Clarets continue their push for the Play-Offs

Burnley’s U23s claimed a 3-2 win over West Bromwich Albion at the County Ground in Leyland to continue their play-off push as we near the end of the campaign.

All three Clarets goals came in the first half. Winger Max Thompson grabbed a brace which was sandwiched by a header from Dara Costelloe before surviving a second half fightback from the Baggies.

It remained as you were in the starting 11 for Burnley from Monday evening’s Lancashire Senior Cup semi-final win away at Accrington Stanley though Scottish striker Joe McGlynn returned to the bench following a spell on the sidelines through injury.

Level on points going into the contest, the Clarets had won their last four while West Brom contrastingly hadn’t won in four, drawing 1-1 away at bottom side Reading last time out.

First Half

In August’s season opener between the two sides, Baggies forward Mo Faal had got on the scoresheet and had a sighter at goal after just two minutes in Leyland but saw a shot go well wide.

Ben Woods, who has been in fine scoring form of his own recently, then went close at the other end in dragging a shot narrowly wide before Burnley were forced into an early change with McGlynn replacing Rob Harker up front.

The Baggies and Woods both also had free-kicks go close before Thompson opened the scoring on the half-hour mark. Seeing an initial effort from inside the are saved well by West Brom’s trialist goalkeeper, the winger hammered home the rebound with no mistake.

And after Rico Richards had powered over for the visitors, Costelloe made it two on 40 minutes with a clinical header from Mark Helm’s cross. The striker’s first goals of the campaign came in late December, but he’s now into double figures for the season.

Three minutes later, Thompson capped off a remarkable spell for the Clarets with his second and their third of the night. Costelloe was involved again, chesting the ball down amid some panic at the back from the visitors for his teammate to convert.

Second Half

Following a poor end to the first half, the visitors came out firing at the restart and had Rico Richards’ first attempt of the second half hit the top of the crossbar from distance on 47 minutes.

Costelloe then saw appeals for a penalty waved away before the Baggies hit back with a goal on 51 minutes as Jamie Andrews’ low shot found its way into the bottom corner.

Four minutes later, the deficit was down to one as Rico Richards headed home at point-blank range.

The Clarets rallied from there on though, McGlynn trying his luck from 25 yards out and forcing a smart save down low from the trialist.

Anthony Gomez Mancini replaced Thompson with just over 10 minutes remaining, and did all bar score four minutes from time having beaten his man in the box.

In five minutes of time added on, Faal fired wide for West Brom before Danish ‘keeper Jensen made a huge stop one-on-one to deny the visitors an equaliser in what was a vital moment.

Helm also clipped the crossbar with a shot at the other end while Ne-Jai Tucker brought another good stop from the trialist with a curling effort.

It ended 3-2 though, Burnley making it a Good Friday to remember with five wins on the bounce in all competitions including four in the Premier League 2, Division 2 which have re-ignited play-off ambitions.

The U23s next return to action on Friday, April 22, in a 7:00pm kick-off away against Stoke City. That one is set to be played at the Lyme Valley Stadium, home of non-league team Newcastle Town.

Burnley: Jensen, Dodgson, Nartey, Sassi, Armstrong, Tucker, Woods, Helm (C), Thompson (Gomez Mancini ’78), Costelloe, Harker (McGlynn ’13)

Unused Subs: Thomas, Ward, Rooney

West Brom: Trialist, Ingram, Taylor, Nguepissi, Trialist (Teixeira ’56), Ashworth, Andrews, Shaw (M. Richards ’77), Fellows, Faal, R. Richards (Castro ’71)

Unused Subs: Cisse, Malcolm

Goals: Thompson, ’30 & ’43, Costelloe, ’40, Andrews, ’51, R. Richards, ‘55