Dave on the Wolves away win...
Dave Thornley adds his after thoughts to our first away win of the season.
With next week?s impending visit to Turf Moor by league leaders Arsenal and (without wishing to be too negative) the probability of a defeat, it was ***** that Burnley emerged from yesterday?s trip to bottom of the table Wolves with something to show in the points column.
In setting about this task, the Clarets were impressive in the first half, sweeping into a two nil lead courtesy of two Zian Flemming goals; the first a superbly worked goal, latching on to Hartman?s perceptive and skilfully delivered through ball to apply an accomplished first-time finish low into the corner of the Wolves net.
The two Dutchmen combined for the second goal shortly afterwards, this one a close-range finish to Hartman?s cross after Flemming had shrugged off the attentions of a Wolves defender.
Burnley were in control and coasting, but as half time drew near, Josh Cullen challenged for a ball played into the Burnley box, the challenge was innocuous, there were no appeals from the Wolves players, nonetheless, the referee saw fit to award a penalty. Strand-Larsen stroked the ball past Martin Dubravka and Wolves had been handed a passage back into the contest.
It was one which they would enhance with a headed equaliser to go into the break level, despite Burnley outplaying them for most of the half.
Buoyed by the volte face in their fortunes, Wolves pressed hard in the second half, leaving Burnley to do what Burnley do well, dropping deep, absorbing and resisting pressure, with the assistance of yet another excellent display of goalkeeping from Dubravka.
The game looked to be petering out into a draw which it seemed both teams looked to be content with, and which would have meant a point, but, after going two goals up, would have felt like a loss.
Fortunately, Burnley?s substitutes had other ideas; Hannibal, for all his behavioural issues, remains a good footballer, and is particularly adept in carrying the ball forward to relieve pressure on an overworked defence. In doing so, he picked out a run from Lyle Foster and placed the ball accurately into his path to slip the ball past the keeper and into the Wolves goal to give the Clarets a 95th minute winner and all three points.
On reflection, it is hard to determine whether or not Burnley?s victory was a second half smash and grab or just reward for their first half performance. But let us not overthink it, we won, we have put distance between ourselves and the relegation zone and we have ten points from nine games, It is time to rejoice.
Editor?s note: It dawned on me during the game just what a strong bench we now have. There may even possibly be three teams worse than us this season. Fingers crossed.
