U23s REPORT: BURNLEY 3-1 READING

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Clarets seal all three points over Reading at Leyland

2021-09-27T20:23:32.256Z

U23s REPORT: BURNLEY 3-1 READING

Clarets seal all three points over Reading at Leyland

2021-09-27T20:23:32.256Z

U23 REACTION - JACKSON: IMPROVEMENT IS THE KEY - Image 1

Michael Jackson’s U23 side earned a second consecutive win with a 3-1 win against Reading at the County Ground in Leyland as Kevin Long played a full 90 minutes in his comeback from injury.

Joe McGlynn’s early strike had the Clarets in front while Michael Mellon netted before the break to double their advantage and Sam Unwin came off the bench to secure the three points as the clock ticked into added time.

It was a quickfire start for the hosts as birthday boy McGlynn slotted past the onrushing Reading goalkeeper Coniah Boyce-Clarke with just three minutes played. Ne-Jai Tucker slipped the forward through to grab his first of two assists on the night.

The Royals’ Claudio Osoro then had a free-kick comfortably saved by Burnley shot stopper Sam Waller before Tucker grabbed his second assist by setting up Mellon close to the half-hour mark. Having met a cross from the right, striker Mellon looped the ball over Boyce-Clarke and watched on as it bounced into the back of the net.

U23s REPORT: BURNLEY 3-1 READING - Image 1

Prior to the break, the visitors did pull a goal back through Mamadi Camara who tapped into the net from a few yards out having received the ball off a teammate in the area.

Half-time saw Clarets’ boss Jackson make his first substitution, bringing on Will Hugill for Anthony Gomez Mancini, and after Bobby Thomas headed narrowly wide shortly after the restart, Max Thompson also entered the action in place of Tucker.

Thomas also had a header saved with 20 minutes remaining, that one direct from a corner and marking the third of three chances in quick succession for Burnley coming after McGlynn saw a one-on-one well saved by Boyce-Clarke.

Still a one-goal contest, the visitors then sought an equaliser and built up pressure in and around the Clarets’ box for a period, but to no avail. The closest Reading came to a leveller being an effort on the half volley fired over the bar by Lynford Sackey.

U23s REPORT: BURNLEY 3-1 READING - Image 2

And having come on three minutes before the end, Unwin seized his moment by firing home the third Burnley goal which sealed the victory. On the counter attack, the frontman surged forward and took aim at the net with the ball going in off the far post.

With the three points, the Clarets’ U23’s earned their second victory in a row, adding to three points away at Southampton last time out, and moved up to 11th-place in the Premier League 2 table.

Burnley: Waller, Armstrong, Long, Thomas, Glennon, Tucker (Thompson 65’), Helm, Gomez Mancini (Hugill HT), Dodgson, Mellon, McGlynn (Unwin 87’)

Reading: Boyce-Clarke, Abrefa (Strickland HT), Holzman, Ashcroft, Sackey, Camara, Purcell, Talent, Ehibhatiomhan (Vickers 73’), Osoro, Clarke