Chris Wood double gives Burnley win over Cardiff in relegation scrap

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:23 am

Chris Wood scored twice as Burnley all but secured Premier League safety with a 2-0 win over fellow strugglers Cardiff, leaving the Welsh club deep in relegation trouble and their manager Neil Warnock fuming.

Cardiff, occupying the final relegation slot in 18th place, are on 28 points, five behind 17th-placed Brighton with five games remaining. Burnley, who have won three in a row, move up to 14th on 39 points -- 11 ahead of Cardiff.

But the large travelling Welsh support will remember the game for a second-half penalty incident when, with the score at 1-0 to Burnley, referee Mike Dean changed his mind after initially pointing to the spot.

New Zealander Wood, who had hit the post in the second minute, put the Clarets in front in the 31st minute with a fine header from a Dwight McNeil corner.

Burnley then had several chances to add to their lead, with Cardiff keeper Neil Etheridge twice doing well to keep out shots from midfielder Ashley Westwood.

Just before the break, Burnley's Ashley Barnes was booked after a confrontation with Joe Bennett where he appeared to kiss the Cardiff defender on the nose.

Cardiff came out strongly after the interval and thought they had a chance to level three minutes into the second half when they were awarded a penalty for handball by Ben Mee.

The linesman's flag was raised after Mee headed the ball at his own hand and Dean responded by pointing to the spot. But after consulting with assistant Darren Cann, Dean changed his mind.

"Mike must have seen something to go over and we're gutted really. I think Darren made the right decision and Mike has talked him out of it," Warnock said.

Junior Hoilett wasted a great chance for Cardiff, blasting high over after being found unmarked inside the area.

Burnley made sure of the win in stoppage time when Wood added his second, nodding home from close range after a winding run from winger McNeil.

The win means Burnley could be mathematically safe before their next game at Chelsea on Easter Monday, but manager Sean Dyche remained wary.

"I don't think you talk about that because you want it factually. You can't guarantee it but I think we're in a very, very healthy position," he said.

Warnock's side now play Brighton, who suffered a 5-0 thrashing at home to Bournemouth, on Tuesday in a match that looks like the last chance for them to find a path away from the drop.