U23s REPORT: SOUTHAMPTON 0-2 BURNLEY

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Clarets earn first league win of season in style with victory at St Mary’s

2021-09-19T19:00:45.213Z

U23s REPORT: SOUTHAMPTON 0-2 BURNLEY

Clarets earn first league win of season in style with victory at St Mary’s

2021-09-19T19:00:45.213Z

Clarets earn first league win of season in style with victory at St Mary’s

Michael Jackson’s U23 side claimed their first victory of the Premier League 2 campaign with a 2-0 win away at Southampton.

Sam Unwin came off the bench to put the Clarets in front with a header in first half stoppage time, while Ne-Jai Tucker curled in a sublime free-kick with 15 minutes remaining to put the seal on a ‘Super Sunday’ at St Mary’s.

After a tight encounter in the opening stages, Burnley were presented with their first real opportunity of the game 20 minutes in with forward Joe McGlynn being slotted through on goal by Lewis Richardson.

A last-ditch block prevented McGlynn’s strike, but he would have an impact soon after as he latched onto a misplaced pass from Saints’ goalkeeper Harry Lewis. Through on goal, the striker was then pulled down by the ‘keeper who saw red from referee Matthew Russell.

Burnley’s Richardson was forced off shortly before half time, Sam Unwin replacing him. With the hosts down to ten men, the Clarets pushed for the opener, and it didn’t take long for Unwin to make his mark.

In the fourth minute of time added on, the frontman found himself in space in the box and glanced a looping header over Saints’ sub ‘keeper Ollie Wright to hand his side the lead at the break.

And from an almost identical position, Southampton’s Dom Ballard had a header of his own kept out acrobatically by Clarets’ shot stopper Sam Waller soon after the restart.

U23s REPORT: SOUTHAMPTON 0-2 BURNLEY - Image 1

Burnley were then given the chance to extend their advantage from the penalty spot after Unwin was brought down in the box on the hour-mark. Max Thompson stepped up but saw his effort palmed away by ‘keeper Wright.

U23’s boss Jackson then made both of his remaining substitutions to add fresh legs onto the pitch. Having already planned his second change of the afternoon prior to the penalty being awarded, the manager replaced Thompson with Dara Costelloe. Ethen Vaughan also made way, replaced by Finn Armstrong.

And having withstood a short period of Southampton pressure, the Clarets went on to get their second goal in the 75th minute. Owen Dodgson surged forward and was fouled on the edge of the area giving Tucker the opportunity to have a strike at goal.

And strike at goal he did, curling the ball seamlessly around the Saints’ defensive wall for the ball to nestle in the bottom corner of Wright’s net. From then on, Jackson’s side looked comfortable. Will Hugill’s block in the area to deny Kazeem Olaigbe and ‘keeper Waller’s tip over the bar from a long-range effort made sure of the clean sheet.

Burnley: Waller, Vaughan (Armstrong 67’), Dodgson, Helm, Thomas, Glennon, Thompson (Costelloe 62’), Hugill, McGlynn, Richardson (Unwin 38’), Tucker

Southampton: Lewis, Payne, Small, Simeu, Lancashire, Chauke, Ballard, Doyle, Mitchell, Watts, Olaigbe

Referee: Matthew Russell

Attendance: 664

U23s REPORT: SOUTHAMPTON 0-2 BURNLEY - Image 2

Speaking post-match on the south coast, manager Jackson was pleased with his side’s first league win of the campaign but emphasised that development is the key.

He said: “I’m delighted for the group. I think that they needed that. They’ve had some games this season so far where they’ve played really well and not come away with anything.

“Today was just about finding a way to win the game and you get that in football sometimes. When you’ve lost a couple of games, it’s just about finding a way to win, and we did that today.

“With development [in general] and this league, you get so many different levels within the teams. Some teams are strong one week and then weak the next, so winning isn’t the only important thing.

“Of course, we want to win and winning is important, but I’m looking for performances and how the players are improving. We’ve got to make sure that they’re getting better as individuals, that’s our job.”

On the subject of player development, Jackson also highlighted the importance of having a mix of more experienced players in a team alongside the younger ones, using his own squad at Southampton as an example.

He said: “Sam Waller [a second-year scholar] was excellent for us today. He made a great couple of saves and that’s what you want to see from young players. You want to see them doing well.

“Bobby [Thomas] and Glenno [Anthony Glennon] came in to give us that bit more experience which is a good thing. They’ve come down from the first team group having trained with them, and they’ve done well today too.

“We just give the same simple message to the players all the time. It’s about us getting better and how we play.

“We’ve got to do the basics well and a big part of that is the work rate. Trying to understand as young lads that running is a massive part of it. Sometimes you won’t have the ball, so you really have to pay attention to the defensive side of things. Then, when you do get the ball, you’ve got to look after it.”