U23 REPORT: Fulham 1 Burnley 4

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

Clarets romp to biggest win of the season to maintain play-off charge

2021-03-19T15:17:37.067Z

U23 REPORT: Fulham 1 Burnley 4

Clarets romp to biggest win of the season to maintain play-off charge

2021-03-19T15:17:37.067Z

Striker Rob Harker hits two goals in two games on return from injury

Four second-half goals powered the Clarets to their biggest win of the season and kept their play-off push firmly on course.

Steve Stone’s in-form side blew Fulham away with a three-goal burst inside nine minutes early in the second half to earn a fourth win in five games and lift them to third place in the Premier League 2 Second Division table.

The Clarets shared the goals around as efforts from Rob Harker, Richard Nartey and Max Thompson – from the penalty spot – put Burnley 3-0 up and within touching distance of a fourth away success of the campaign.

And then after Fulham had pulled a goal back with their only effort of the second half, substitute Joel Mumbongo quickly responded with the Clarets’ fourth goal to kill off any prospect of a late fightback from the Londoners.

U23 REPORT: Fulham 1 Burnley 4 - Image 1

Stone’s men have found some momentum at a crucial time with four games still to go in their first season at this level.

And this was a notable victory in testing conditions at the London School of Economics.

The Clarets certainly got the numbers right as they overcame a very poor playing surface and a nagging breeze which made passing football very difficult – despite the efforts of midfielder 17-year Kade Ratchford who impressed on his first start.

Faced with that kind of exam, Burnley passed with flying colours as they showed the necessary energy, commitment and cutting edge to secure a highly satisfying victory.

Fulham had won only one of their previous five games but didn’t consider themselves out of the promotion race.

The Cottagers started brightly and Jay Stansfield missed an excellent chance to give them the lead when he lifted a close-range effort over the bar.

U23 REACTION: Stone On Fulham Success - Image 2

Clarets’ keeper Marc Richter also touched over a shot from Ollie O’Neil, while Burnley’s only real opening before the break saw a Lewis Richardson strike beaten away by Taye Ashby-Hammond.

But Fulham couldn’t deal with the outstandingRichardson after the break as the Clarets quickly gained control.

The skipper looked as though he should have been awarded a penalty for a trip in the box but just minutes later got behind the Cottagers’ defence and pulled the ball back for Harker to coolly slot home his second goal in two games.

Nartey then got a deserved first goal for the club to cap another outstanding performance when he poked the ball home after Ashby-Hammond had spilled an Anthony Glennon corner.

And two quickly became three with an hour gone as Richardson did earn a penalty, even if Fulham defender Iban Bowat could class himself as unlucky to be penalised for handball as he dropped on the ball after what may have been a foul.

For the second week running Thompson slotted home the spot-kick as the Clarets continued to dominate.

Fulham had barely been out of their half but with just under 20 minutes to go pulled a goal back when substitute Sylvester Jasper curled home a free-kick after Anthony Gomez-Mancini had lost possession on the edge of the penalty area.

But rather than allow doubts creep in, the Clarets responded in the perfect manner to add a fourth and set a new season’s best.

Forcing Fulham back from their own free-kick, Thompson won the ball and fed Richardson to torment the hosts again with a low cross which Mumbongo tucked away to claim his eighth goal of the season and move back level with Thompson at the top of the scoring charts.

Burnley: Richter; Cropper, Hartey, Glennon, Rain; Thompson, Ratchford, Gomez-Mancini (Costelloe 73), Tucker; Richardson, Harker (Mumbongo 65). Substitutes: Thompson, Unwin, Gallagher.

Fulham: Ashby-Hammond, D’Auria-Henry, Lariceche, McAvoy, Bowat, Pajaziti (Jasper 59), Francois, Carvalho, O’Neil, Stansfield, Biereth (Tiehio 59). Substitutes: Borto, Hilton, Murphy.