U23s REPORT: BURNLEY 2-0 MIDDLESBROUGH

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

Clarets extend unbeaten run in league to six matches with victory over Middlesbrough at Leyland

2021-10-23T07:15:00.000Z

U23s REPORT: BURNLEY 2-0 MIDDLESBROUGH

Clarets extend unbeaten run in league to six matches with victory over Middlesbrough at Leyland

2021-10-23T07:15:00.000Z

Clarets extend unbeaten run in league to six matches with victory over Middlesbrough at Leyland

Michael Jackson’s U23 side earned a 2-0 victory against Middlesbrough at the Lancashire FA County Ground in Leyland to push their unbeaten run in the Premier League 2 campaign to six matches.

Michael Mellon netted before Burnley forced an own goal from George Gitau two minutes later, and despite some late pressure from the visitors, the Clarets held on to claim three points.

Boss Jackson made seven changes to the side that lost out 3-2 to Peterborough United in the Premier League Cup in midweek.

Goalkeeper Sam Waller and midfielders Ben Woods, Mark Helm & Ne-Jai Tucker all retained their places in the starting line-up as Burnley returned to league action.

Defender Anthony Glennon was one of those returning, and he almost had the Clarets in front with just seven minutes on the clock but was denied by the woodwork.

Glennon got forward into the area and connected powerfully with Tucker’s cross across the face of goal but saw the ball bounce off the crossbar and away from danger.

U23s REPORT: BURNLEY 2-0 MIDDLESBROUGH - Image 1

Jackson’s side remained in the ascendancy in the opening stages and got their rewards with two goals in two minutes midway through the first half.

Tucker first did well with some neat footwork on the edge of the box and threaded the ball through to Mellon, who made no mistake from close range.

Playing up an age group, Mellon netted his 13th of the season across both U18 and U23 games with a cool finish into the bottom corner of the net off the post.

He and Tucker had an influence on Burnley’s second of the contest too. Tucker whipped a cross across goal once more and Mellon put Middlesbrough defender Gitau under pressure.

Facing his own net, Gitau tried to clear but put the ball into his own net and if he hadn’t, Mellon would’ve done so.

Firmly in control of the game, Burnley kept pressing and Gitau was fortunate not to see red from referee Martin Woods before the first half came to an end.

The ‘Boro defender was booked for one late challenge and conceded another foul in the same fashion just minutes later, though escaped any further punishment.

U23s REPORT: BURNLEY 2-0 MIDDLESBROUGH - Image 2

After the restart, the visitors settled into the game and searched for a way back into it. Stephen Walker saw an audacious effort from long-range sail over the crossbar on the hour mark, but Burnley shot stopper Sam Waller was never troubled by it.

Clarets’ skipper Bobby Thomas then saw red from the match official with around 20 minutes remaining for a tug on the shirt of Boro’s Sam Folarin.

The attacker broke through on goal and got his shot away – which Waller saved comfortably – but Thomas was adjudged to have prevented a goalscoring opportunity.

Down to ten men, Jackson’s side defended resolutely, and the boss made his substitutions in a bid to add fresh legs into the action.

Middlesbrough were awarded a penalty before the end of the game, but when Jeremy Sivi blasted wide from 12 yards out, their hopes of a late comeback were killed off.

Burnley: Waller, Armstrong, Thomas, Bedeau, Glennon, Tucker (Costelloe 80’), Helm, Woods, Dodgson, Mellon (Rooney 87’), McGlynn (Thompson 83’)

Subs: Allen, Vaughan

Middlesbrough: Metcalfe, Gitau, Collins, Cornet, Sykes, Hannah, Folarin, Stott, Walker (Willis 79’), Kavanagh (Sivi 60’), Gibson

Subs: Dijksteel, Wells, Swan