MATCH REPORT: ASTON VILLA 3 – 2 BURNLEY

Late goal denies Clarets a deserved point at Villa Park

Burnley’s resilience and character was on display against Aston Villa on Saturday as the Clarets came from behind twice against the league leaders but a late penalty saw the hosts take all three points in an end-to-end contest.

Leon Bailey opened the scoring at Villa Park but just two minutes later the Clarets had their equaliser through Zeki Amdouni before Moussa Diaby put the hosts back in front moments before the break.

Lyle Foster then fired in a deserved goal with 20 minutes to play to secure the equaliser and pull the scores level once again but an 89th minute penalty from Douglas Luiz ensured a Villa win.

Manager Vincent Kompany made one change from the side that played at Fulham last weekend as Johann Berg Gudmundsson returned to the XI replacing Mike Tresor.

First Half

It was a quiet opening 10 minutes in the Midlands with the first real opportunity falling to Villa striker Watkins. The forward latched onto Moreno’s pass and fired a first-time strike towards Trafford forcing the Burnley No.1 into action.

Burnley carved open a chance shortly after when Foster used his strength to beat Lenglet and race towards the area with three Clarets darting into the box. Foster’s cut-back pass just couldn’t quite find the feet of anyone inside the area, before Brownhill eventually struck it just wide of the target.

In a fairly even contest with just under half-an-hour played, Villa took the lead as Watkins picked out Bailey across the box with the Jamaican winger cutting inside and firing into the roof of the net in front of the Holte End.

But with just less than two minutes later the Clarets had their equaliser as Amdouni fired in from close range following a set piece. O’Shea rose highest at the back post to guide the long ball into the box towards the back post for Amdouni who finished in fine fashion to pull the scores level.

The Clarets were looking a threat every time the visitors sparked an attack and it looked like Kompany’s side had taken the lead before the break when Amdouni slipped in Foster who broke through on goal one-on-one and fired past Martinez only to flagged for a tight offside decision.

Despite Burnley’s strong attacking display throughout the first 45, Villa regained their lead two minutes before half time when Watkins grabbed his second assist of the afternoon and picked out Diaby inside the area to fire in from eight yards out.

Second Half

The Foster and Lenglet race continued early in the second half and this time Foster beat the defender once again, before weaving into the area and falling under the challenge of Lenglet but Stuart Atwell waved away any appeals for a penalty.

As the hour mark approached and the visitors looked for a way back into the game, Burnley were reduced to 10 men as Berge picked up his second yellow card of the afternoon for a foul on Luiz.

In a lively contest in Birmingham, there was then another stoppage in play to check for a possible handball as Carlos denied Foster an opportunity on goal after blocking it with his hand just outside the area but VAR denied any punishment on the defender.

Up at the other end and McGinn forced Trafford into a smart low save as the Scottish midfielder unleashed an effort aiming for the bottom corner but Trafford was equal to it.

There was a handful of opportunities for the lively Diaby to double his tally for the day but with his best chance of the bunch, the wideman could only curl the ball well over the crossbar from inside the area.

Foster’s persistence paid off and the South African got his goal in the 71st minute after creating a similar opportunity to his previous three but this time slotting home into the bottom corner despite VAR taking a look the equaliser was given.

Just as the game looked to be playing out as a draw, Villa were awarded a penalty when Duran was adjudged to be fouled inside the area and Luiz stepped up to the spot to fire Emery’s side back in front.

Burnley: Trafford, Vitinho, O’Shea, Beyer (Delcroix 16), Taylor, Gudmundsson (Tresor 72), Brownhill, Berge, Amdouni (Ramsey 61), Odobert (Roberts 73), Foster

Unused substitutes: Muric, Obafemi, Rodriguez, Bruun Larsen, Redmond

Aston Villa: Martinez, Carlos, Konsa, Moreno, Lenglet (Pau 61), Luiz, McGinn, Diaby (Duran 81), Ramsey, Bailey, Watkins

Unused substitutes: Marschall, Chambers, Zaniolo, Dendoncker, Iroegbhunam, Proctor

Goals: Bailey 28’, Amdouni 30’, Diaby 43’, Foster 71′, Luiz 89’ (Pen)