Football
Jamie Smith 7y

Johann Gudmundsson on song as Ashley Barnes wins it for Burnley

A crazy game at Turf Moor ended in pandemonium in the stands as Ashley Barnes wrapped up a 3-2 thriller with the winner in stoppage time on Saturday.

Burnley seemed to have thrown away a two-goal lead and Crystal Palace felt the likelier victors in the closing minutes, but the team's desire and determination shone as they maintained their excellent home form to move up to ninth in the league.

Positives

Rarely have the Clarets ever looked this dangerous on the break and Palace did not cope with their direct threat on the counter.

More goals could have come and Johann Gudmundsson produced his best performance for the club so far. That Barnes scored the winner after missing virtually all of last season through injury made the victory all the sweeter.

Negatives

To be 2-0 up at home after 14 minutes and end up clinging on for much of the second half suggests poor game management from the players. The last time Palace came to Turf Moor in the Premier League they came from 2-0 down to win 3-2, and the same almost happened again, with Alan Pardew's tactical shifts proving key and Sean Dyche apparently having no response.

Manager rating out of 10

6 -- Dyche watched on as Pardew changed his system to great effect, then threw on Connor Wickham who promptly scored with his first touch. Dyche's substitutes seemed to be too late to make an impact but choosing Barnes over the more obvious pick of Andre Gray was a bold decision that paid off in style.

The return to 4-5-1 with Gray dropped to the bench was also justified by the danger Dyche's side posed on the break all match.

Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

GK Tom Heaton, 7 -- Given no chance with either goal but a couple of first-half saves ensured Burnley's lead at half-time was comfortable.

DF Matt Lowton, 6 -- The right-back's bizarre decision to handle a cross that was not causing danger in the penalty box almost cost his team two points, but his crossing in the first half was superb.

DF Michael Keane, 7 -- Generally solid in front of the watching England manager Gareth Southgate, Keane was not quite as commanding as he has been of late.

DF Ben Mee, 8 -- Although perhaps caught out of position for Palace's first goal, it was a rare blot in an outstanding individual performance for Mee, a goal-saving challenge on James McArthur his highlight.

DF Jon Flanagan, 7 -- Deputising for injured regular right-back Stephen Ward, the on-loan defender's over-reliance on his right foot was noticeable on his first league start for the club, but the pass into Sam Vokes for Burnley's second goal was sublime.

MF Johann Gudmundsson, 9 -- End product is all that has been lacking from his game and a goal and assist provided it in style, while he was involved in all three goals. Steve Mandanda should probably have stopped his goal, but his cool cross for Barnes' stunning winner was terrific.

MF Dean Marney, 8 -- Booked after just 10 minutes, Marney did not let the yellow card affect his game and he was a driving force in midfield, starting the break that led to the dramatic late winner.

MF Jeff Hendrick, 7 -- Quieter than his central midfield partners, the Ireland international's use of the ball was good but he needs to get more involved in the play.

MF Steven Defour, 8 -- Returning after missing two games through injury, Defour was a Rolls-Royce in the Clarets midfield. Although incapable of playing 90 minutes, the Belgian remains the team's key cog.

MF Scott Arfield, 6 -- Good energy from the wing, but little attacking threat and no end product meant it was not a surprise he was the first player to be substituted.

FW Sam Vokes, 7 -- Sharp in the opening two minutes to poke home his third goal in four games, Vokes perhaps could have put the match to bed early in the second half only to be denied twice by Mandanda, although he set up Gudmundsson for the second.

Substitutes

MF George Boyd, 5 -- Rarely seemed to find a Claret shirt in his half an hour on the pitch.

DF James Tarkowski, N/R -- The game mostly passed him by and there is a lot of work to do if he is to be converted into a genuine midfield option rather than an emergency fill-in.

FW Ashley Barnes, N/R -- It was pure desire from a player who has missed so much football through injury to break at pace deep in stoppage-time and his finish was emphatic.

^ Back to Top ^