Burnley revived their slim hopes of Premier League survival with a tense victory over 10-man Brentford at Turf Moor. Jacob Bruun Larsen's early penalty provided Burnley with an ideal start after Sergio Reguilon's challenge on Clarets winger Vitinho resulted in a red card for the Brentford player, as determined by the video assistant referee (VAR).
Brentford came close to equalizing when Dara O'Shea's errant backpass nearly gifted them a goal, but Arijanet Muric, deputizing for Burnley's regular goalkeeper James Trafford, made a crucial clearance.
David Datro Fofana missed a clear opportunity before halftime but made amends in the second half by calmly finishing Wilson Odobert's pass to double Burnley's lead.
Despite Brentford's late efforts, including Kristoffer Ajer's header that narrowed the gap, Burnley held on for the win. Brentford thought they had salvaged a draw in added time, but Shandon Baptiste's goal was disallowed due to a foul by Ivan Toney on the Burnley keeper.
Burnley manager Vincent Kompany expressed relief at securing the victory, emphasizing the importance of converting performances into results and commending his team's proactive approach.
The win, Burnley's second at home this season, narrows the gap to safety to eight points with nine matches remaining, while Brentford remains four points clear of the relegation zone.
Fofana, who endured a mixed performance, redeemed himself with a crucial goal, highlighting Burnley's ability to overcome challenges in their survival bid.
Brentford, on the other hand, faced a disappointing defeat, exacerbated by Reguilon's early dismissal and missed opportunities. Despite their efforts to rally in the second half, they couldn't avoid their fifth defeat in six league games.
Manager Thomas Frank expressed frustration at pivotal refereeing decisions but credited his team for their resilience, acknowledging the need to accumulate points in upcoming fixtures to secure their Premier League status.
0 Comments