Shockingly reveal to the Burnley fans ahead of the weekend clash against Brentford which saw 5 key players miss the match due to….
Turf Moor is the location for an intriguing bottom-half Premier League battle on Saturday afternoon, when Burnley pit their wits against Brentford.
The Clarets blew a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw with West Ham United last weekend, while the Bees were left frustrated and furious following a 2-1 loss to London rivals Arsenal.
A Europa League hangover was evident for West Ham during the visit of Burnley to the London Stadium, where David Datro Fofana‘s goal-of-the-season contender broke the deadlock before a Dinos Mavropanos own goal saw the Clarets head into the break with an unforeseen 2-0 advantage.
However, after some choice words from David Moyes at the break, West Ham came out a different beast in the second 45 and immediately cut the deficit in half through Lucas Paqueta, before an old Burnley flame – Danny Ings – produced a slick turn and half-volley to complete the Irons’ second-half turnaround.
The erstwhile Clarets attacker also had another strike disallowed and hit the woodwork either side of his leveller, but Burnley managed to escape with a point against the Europa Conference League holders, one which keeps them above 20th-placed Sheffield United on goal difference with 10 games remaining.
The gap to safety has been reduced to 10 points owing to Nottingham Forest’s loss to Brighton & Hove Albion, but Vincent Kompany must still perform a minor miracle if his Turf Moor troops – now winless in 11 games across all tournaments – are to pull off the latest great escape.
Last weekend’s West Ham draw was just the second time in Burnley’s history that they have failed to triumph in a Premier League game after taking a two-goal lead, and 20 points dropped from winning positions is the second-highest total of its kind in the 2023-24 season, only behind their upcoming visitors.
After failing to make the most of Aaron Ramsdale howlers at the Gtech Community Stadium back in November, Brentford ensured that Arsenal’s number two would not get away with such calamities at the Emirates last weekend, as Yoane Wissa deflected the Englishman’s attempted clearance into the back of the net following Declan Rice‘s opening header.
However, following two crucial second-half saves from expiated Ramsdale, Brentford were undone by another Ben White cross – this time for Kai Havertz in the 86th minute – as they slumped to a fourth defeat from five Premier League games at the home of the title chasers.
Frank and co were left apoplectic at the fact that Havertz – who had escaped a second yellow for a perceived dive – was still on the pitch, but the Bees could count themselves lucky not to concede at least one second-half penalty at the Emirates, where they memorably benefitted from Lee Mason‘s resignation-worthy VAR blunder last yet.
