© Breaking The Lines 2017-2021. All Rights Reserved.

Match Report: Burnley 1 Wolves 1

April 3, 2024
Match Report, Premier League Analysis

A run of four games undefeated for Burnley in the Premier League has made the once-impossible task of survival just a little less impossible. In taking a point against Wolverhampton Wanderers, they have taken back a little semblance of control of their destiny as it makes their reunion with Sean Dyche’s Everton a crucial 6-pointer with their points deduction still hanging in the air.

 

Burnley played with a vigour and positivity which has been sorely missing for large parts of the season. “We looked like a Premier League team tonight,” said Burnley manager Vincent Kompany. It seemed that way at Turf Moor as the hosts had an electric start. Lyle Foster and Wilson Odobert were full of pace and malice as they looked to attack their fullbacks at every opportunity.

 

 

Josh Cullen, carried on his rich vein of form after his heroics last week against Chelsea, with his immense pressing efforts from midfield, not allowing Wolverhampton any way out of their half. Although, it was the visitors who had had the first real chance of the game. A corner was whipped in deep to Matt Doherty at the back post who headed it back to João Gomes, who from five yards out headed it wide. This poor marking would bite Burnley in the backside later.

 

The breakthrough came through not long later with a move from back to front. Arijanet Muric, who has looked extremely assured since coming back into their side, played the ball out to Dara O’Shea. The centre half then carried the ball into Wolverhampton’s half unpressured and swung a delightful ball to Jacob Bruun Larsen, who volleyed it in first time. Three passes for a quality goal: a throwback to their swashbuckling dominance last season in the Championship.

 

Yet, their poor marking would bite them in the back. Rayan-Ait Nouri, Wolves’ standout player on the night who played in almost a free role in attack, won a contentious free kick on the edge of the box. Pablo Sarabia lofted it into Ait-Nouri who headed it in past Muric. Kompany, who has shown multiple frustrations with referees this season, again showed as he said: “If you do a pirouette and fall on your own, and there’s no contact made, it’s absolutely not a free kick. The referee was in the best position to see it.”

 

 

Even with his frustrations with the referee, the Belgian will be disappointed at the fact his side never went ahead in the second half, with Bruun Larsen and Odobert going close and substitute Manuel Benson forcing José Sá into three smart saves.

 

However, Ait-Nouri missed a guilt-edged chance in the second half as he was one on one with plenty of time against Muric but could only blast it straight down the Kosovan’s throat. This was similar to his miss last week against Aston Villa when the score was 0-0 and he could only hit Emiliano Martinez from five yards out.

 

Kompany would be frustrated at his side’s missed opportunities but be happy with their overall performance and hope this uptick in form has come at the right time and not too little too late. Whilst Burnley will be looking to stretch their unbeaten run to five games as they travel to Everton, Wolves will be looking to bounce back with a win against West Ham at Molineux.

 

By: Abu Yasin / @Abuy2j

Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Rich Linley – CameraSport

EmailLinkedIn