U23 REPORT: STOKE 0-0 BURNLEY

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Report from Friday night's U23 game

2022-04-22T22:00:00.000Z

U23 REPORT: STOKE 0-0 BURNLEY

Report from Friday night's U23 game

2022-04-22T22:00:00.000Z

Report from Friday night's U23 game

Burnley’s U23 side earned a point in a goalless draw away at Stoke City on Friday night (April 22).

The Clarets now sit three points outside the play-off spots in Premier League 2, Division 2 and have just two matches of the regular season remaining, with Stoke currently occupying 5th and the last place in those play-offs.

Taking charge of the side, U23s assistant Andy Farrell made three changes to the side from last week’s 3-2 win against West Bromwich Albion.

Sam Waller started in goal as Lukas Jensen dropped to the bench, while both Joe McGlynn and Anthony Gomez Mancini started. Dan Sassi meanwhile retained his place in the starting eleven going up against his former club.

Dara Costelloe wasn’t included having been with the first team for their win at home to Southampton, and Rob Harker also dropped out of the squad.

Benn Ward, Joel Connolly, and Sam Unwin all returned to take their place as substitutes.

16-year-old Emre Tezgel was included in the starting line-up for the hosts. Having already featured against the Clarets at U18 level this season, the winger also became the youngest player in Stoke’s history when he made an appearance for the first team in this year’s FA Cup.

First Half

An action packed first half began five minutes in when Clarets ‘keeper Waller produced a fine save to tip over Matthew Baker’s header at a corner.

Finn Armstrong then went close at the other end soon after, hitting an effort hard and low only to be denied on the line by defender David Okagbue having beaten England youth international Tommy Simkin in the Stoke net.

Frenchman Gomez Mancini then had a volley blocked away by City captain Tommy Sparrow which looked set for the back of the net, before Waller again was called into action on 16 minutes.

This time, the ‘keeper had to dive back the other way to claw out Will Goodwin’s header having scrambled across his line to keep up with a cross into his six-yard box.

The contest settled a little after that, though Burnley were just inches away from getting the first goal on 33 minutes through Sassi.

Ne-Jai Tucker’s in-swinging corner was tipped over by Simkin and at the second successive set piece, after being cleared, the ball was worked back out wide to the winger who fizzed a low ball across goal which Sassi stretched for but couldn’t connect with.

Gomez Mancini had another shot saved before the final action of note which came in the form of a goal line clearance by Burnley as the ball bounced around from a Stoke corner and found the feet of Patrick Jarrett who had taken aim.

Second Half

After the restart, goalmouth action was harder to come by though Max Thompson did get a shot away on 53 minutes which Simkin held comfortably.

Will Goodwin then fired wide on the turn inside the area for the Potters before the game was halted on 63 minutes as players observing Ramadan were able to break their fast.

Ten minutes later, the hosts should really have been ahead as Jack Griffiths rattled the bar, Waller again reacted well at the follow-up to stop Tezgel’s shot.

Unwin was introduced from the bench and chased down a ball upfield to round Simkin midway into the Stoke half, but a covering defender got to the striker before he could get the ball out of his feet to strike at an empty net.

On 87 minutes, Griffiths again went close for Stoke in putting too much power onto a shot which fizzed over the Burnley goal.

0-0 it ended with a point each in the two side’s respective play-off pushes.

The Clarets return to action on Monday April 25 at the County Ground in Leyland when Aston Villa are the visitors. Kick-off is 7:00pm and the game will be streamed live on both YouTube & Clarets+ with commentary from Phil Bird.

Burnley: Waller, Dodgson, Nartey, Sassi, Armstrong, Tucker, Woods, Helm (C), Gomez Mancini (Unwin ’81), Thompson, McGlynn

Unused Subs: Jensen, Rooney, Ward, Connolly

Stoke: Simkin, Sparrow, Baker, Okagbue, Duhaney, Jarrett, Sy, Oakley-Boothe, Griffiths, Tezgel, Goodwin

Unused Subs: Hemfrey, Laird, Curl, Knowles, Lowe

Goals: N/A