LFL: BURNLEY

After edging the first half we conceded early in the second and never really got back into the game. A complete turnaround from last week's home performance.

BEFORE

After our thrilling start to the season I'm trying to keep my feet on the ground and not expect another three points this afternoon but I do think we'll get something from the game. Burnley couldn't beat us last season and though they apparently played well against Spurs last Saturday, they ended up 3-0 losers. I'm back in London and am not sure at this stage how I'll be listening to the match. I couldn't renew my annual subscription to safc.com but I heard that BBC Radio Newcastle will be broadcasting it. I was well impressed by the new players against the Hammers and I hope Alderete starts, and it seems likely after the injury to Seelt, as he made a great impact as soon as he came on. Match prediction: 1-1.

I got the team-news about an hour before kick-off and, as expected, Alderete was starting in place of Seelt, who was on the bench. As for the other subs, Masuaku was included instead of Jones. After much fiddling around I got the match on BBC Radio 5 Live and awaited developments... 

THE MATCH

There was a minute's applause for former Burnley player Willie Irvine who died last month and then we were off. There was a great atmosphere and we made a bright start, pressing forward and winning an early free-kick ten yards into their half that resulted in a Mayenda volley from close range which Dubravka in goal managed to save. Ballard was injured in the move, in the groin by the sound of it, and he managed to limp off the pitch. We were down to ten men for a while and Burnley took advantage by pressing themselves. After trying to play on Ballard was soon replaced by Seelt so let's hope the injury isn't too bad. We continued to be on the back foot and Burnley won the first corner but Roefs caught it comfortably. We were promptly up the other end and Adingra fed Talbi who chipped the ball narrowly wide.

Burnley seemed to have taken the lead in the eighteenth minute but after a VAR check it was ruled out for a trip on Seelt. In the excitement Adingra was yellow-carded for slapping the opponent in the face. So far, I like VAR but I'm sure it won't last.

We were having a lot of the ball and Mayenda had another effort in the twenty-fifth but his header went over the bar. Burnley seemed happy for us to have plenty of possession and then try to hit us on the break. It remained goalless as we passed the half-hour mark and I was happy enough with that. Alderete and Hannibal were having regular tussles and if I was Hannibal I'd be careful, even if he does have a hard name. We had a half-hearted penalty shout as half-time approached when Mayenda went down but got nothing. Xhaka had a low shot from the edge of the box but it went well wide. There were four minutes of added-time, mainly due to Ballard's injury, and Anthony went very close with a header in the dying seconds. It remained 0-0 as the half-time whistle went and we'd had most of the possession and some good chances.

There were no further changes as we started again but Burnley didn't waste any time in taking the lead when Cullen bent a shot into the bottom right corner. There was a VAR check for offside but the goal stood. A few minutes later we won a corner but Xhaka's corner went past everyone and Burnley were straight back up the other end with Hannibal threatening. Larsen had a shot not far over and we were on the receiving end for a while.

There was a problem with the floodlights flashing on and off and the match was held up for a short while they tried to solve it. The ref Michael Salisbury had words with the captains and the game restarted with natural daylight. It had broken Burnley's momentum at least but they soon won another corner. That immediately led to a further corner and we headed that one away. In the sixty-second Adingra, Talbi and Mayenda were replaced by Le Fee, Roberts and Isidor and I still felt that we could get that equaliser. Reinildo made a mistake but we survived the ensuing threat.

Ugochukwu and Larsen were subbed for Laurent and Sonne with about twenty minutes remaining. Burnley had switched to five at the back and were being hard to penetrate, as they often were last season. A little bit of magic could do it, though. A few Burnley players were sounding tired as we won a corner with twelve minutes on the clock. Esteve had to receive treatment before the corner could be taken and we brought on Guiu for Diarra.

Guiu was immediately involved in the action and his shot from the corner was blocked. He soon had another shot that went wide - was he going to have a dream debut? Burnley made a triple switch to restore their vigour. Time was running out for us but there was bound to be a fair bit of added-time. As we were pushing for that equaliser though, Walker won a crucial tackle and Cullen fed Anthony who broke away to go round Roefs and make it 2-0.

Ten minutes of added-time were announced so could we make a grandstand finish to snatch two goals? Tchaouna went very close with a powerful shot and those ten minutes ticked away all too quickly. We won a late corner but couldn't make it count and the game soon ended 0-2.