U23s REPORT: WEST BROMWICH ALBION 3-2 BURNLEY

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Tough opening night for young Clarets in PL2

2021-08-16T20:03:46.787Z

U23s REPORT: WEST BROMWICH ALBION 3-2 BURNLEY

Tough opening night for young Clarets in PL2

2021-08-16T20:03:46.787Z

Hugill ready for Black Cats test

West Bromwich Albion ran out 3-2 winners on the opening night of the Premier League 2 Division 2 season with all the goals coming in a lively second half.

Michael Jackson’s young Clarets showed their fighting spirit pulling two goals back in a late, grandstand finish.

Former Bury striker Rob Harker captained a young Burnley side at New Bucks Head. Centre-back Harry Williams lined up against his former club. Harker’s former team-mate at Gigg Lane, Jacob Bedeau joined Williams in the middle of defence. New signing Ethen Vaughan and Finlay Armstrong figured at full back.

There was a young partnership in the centre of midfield with Will Hugill alongside Benn Ward. Dara Costelloe and Ne-Jai Tucker provided the width. Last season’s top scorer Max Thompson partnered Harker up front.

Young goalkeeper Sam Waller did well with a fine early save with his legs to deny Albion striker Jovan Malcolm.

Scottish international midfielder Robert Snodgrass had a chance to open the scoring but his free-kick from 20 yards was easily saved by the young stopper.

The former Leeds United and West Ham United midfielder had another chance from a free-kick after Tucker had brought down Ethan Ingram. This time Waller produced a fantastic flying save.

Burnley’s best first-half chance came after 33 minutes. Former Galway United winger Costelloe won the ball and instigated the attack. Tucker provided a cross from the left and Harker’s left-foot effort was saved by Ted Cann in the home goal.

U23s REPORT: WOLVES 1 - 1 BURNLEY - Image 1

Tucker showed his trickery a minute before half-time but his left-wing cross evaded everyone in the six-yard box.

After a goalless first-half, Albion opened the scoring in the 50th minute. The young Clarets lost possession inside their own half. Striker Modou Faal calmly rounded his man and found the bottom corner giving Waller no chance.

Snodgrass doubled the advantage after 64 minutes from the spot after Bedeau had tripped Tom Fellows in the box.

The Scottish winger made it 3-0 three minutes later. He calmly stroked the ball home after a melee in the Burnley box. The Clarets did well to threw bodies on the line but the ball fell kindly Tom Snodgrass who made it look easy.

Armstrong did well nine minutes from time blocking an Owen Windsor effort on the line.

Burnley showed their character with a late fightback. Michael Mellon got an injury-time consolation with a superb header from a right-wing cross. Fresh from scoring twice for the under-18s in the stunning 8-3 win at Newcastle on Saturday he scored on his debut in the competition.

There was still time for a second Burnley goal. Vaughan’s whipped cross was bundled into his own net by the Albion keeper.

Jackson’s side will be looking to get back to winning ways when they face Sunderland at the Lancashire FA headquarters at Leyland next Monday (7pm).

Burnley: Waller: Vaughan, Williams, Bedeau, Armstrong: Costelloe, Hugill, Ward (Woods), Tucker (Unwin): Harker (Mellon), Thompson. Subs: L.Thomas, Rooney.

West Brom: Cann: Ingram, Shotton, Taylor, Delaney: Snodgrass (King) Castro, Fellows, Richards (Windsor): Faal (Ashworth), Malcolm. Subs: Chisholm, Joshua.