Burnley 1 West Ham 2
The Clarets have been setting all the wrong kind of records in their first season back in the top-flight as they became the first team in Premier League history to lose their first six home games of the campaign. With West Ham visitors to Turf Moor, Kompany’s side needed change drastically.
Burnley started the game in positive fashion as they dispossessed Paqueta in the middle of the park and Rodriguez flashed a ball across goal but Amdouni just could not get the required touch to put it in the back of the net.
Amdouni then turned provider as he laid it into the path of Koleosho, but his shot was straight at Areola as The Hammers’ keeper palmed the effort out. The Clarets are constantly showing the finishing ability of someone with an eating disorder at an all-you-can-eat buffet this season.
As Kompany’s side came forward once again, Koleosho skipped past Coufal before he was brought down by the defender’s trailing leg. The referee decided nothing was doing and VAR checked it and backed their mate as per usual.
Credit: @BurnleyOfficial
The replay showed there was definite contact and a penalty should have been the decision. Sadly the VAR process is like trying to get a conviction when the jury is entirely made up of the defendant’s family and friends.
As the second half started, Koleosho continued to terrorise the visitor’s defence and as he weaved his way into the box he again ended up on the deck. This time, the referee did not hesitate in pointing to the penalty spot.
You have to wonder whether Samuel Barrott had watched the first incident at half time as he seemed to try and be making up for the penalty he and his team did not give earlier in the game, not that the home fans were complaining.
Kudus was the offender for West Ham, despite the decision seeming soft, he did not complain much with the decision. The replay shows, at worst, he may have accidently stood on the back of the player’s boot as he went past him.
Jay Rodriguez stepped up and sent his penalty straight down the middle of the goal to give Burnley fans the hope of a first Premier League win at home this season. Amdouni almost doubled the lead but a smart save from Areola turned the ball around the post for a corner.
With only fifteen or so left in the game, The Clarets’ nerves were there for all to see. As they struggled to clear their lines repeatedly, they looked like a lower league side about to pull off a giant killing in the FA Cup.
Credit: @WestHam
Coufal crossed the ball from the right and Zouma met it with his head but the effort was weak and Trafford saved all too easily. Burnley knew they were going to need to defend for their lives if they were to get the three points everyone at Turf Moor was craving.
With 86 minutes on the clock, fate seemed to come back to haunt Vincent Kompany once again. As Kudus jinked past four Burnley players, all too scared to make a challenge for fear of giving away a penalty, he cut the ball back from the byline.
As Mubama challenged for the ball at the near post it hit the body of O’Shea and flew past Trafford into the back of the net. Heads dropped in Turf Moor on and off the pitch as they could not believe their luck once again.
West Ham sensed that this game was now there for the taking and as the impressive Kudus crossed to the back post, Soucek met it on the volley to break Burnley hearts. The ground fell deathly silent as the away fans celebrated.
It was a devastating end to the game for Burnley but in case they have not learnt yet, the Premier League can be a cruel mistress. That is now seven consecutive defeats at home for Burnley and something has to change if they are hoping to have Premier League badges on their home kit next season.
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