Ashley Barnes scored for both sides on Saturday as Burnley moved eight points clear of the Premier League relegation zone with a come-from-behind 3-1 win over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
With impeccable timing, Burnley completed a league double over AFC Bournemouth for the first time since the 1999-2000 season in Division Two. Goals from Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes – either side of a first goal from Ashley Westwood – saw Burnley come from behind to secure a fourth win on the road this season.
Despite poor recent form, Bournemouth had lost just one of their last 18 home games against teams starting the day below them in the Premier League – this defeat came against Manchester United too.
Bournemouth were clearly second best after letting their lead slip amid a frenetic opening 20 minutes and outside of a wayward Callum Wilson header, the Cherries offered little response on the way to a sixth loss in nine matches.
Sean Dyche has Burnley moving in the right direction again
Dyche’s Burley have always been known for being resolute in defence, have strong, bullying strikers controlling opposition defences and playing route one football. They have started to get their best bits back again, especially in a season in which they have been far from convincing.
Bournemouth started off brightly but were stunned as Chris Wood levelled out of nowhere, with Begovic firmly to blame after flapping at a corner which allowed the New Zealander a simple finish at the far post.
Just 139 seconds later, Burnley had turned the match on its head and this time, poor defending from Mepham gifted them an opportunity as he scuffed the direct and increasingly impressive Dwight McNeil’s low cross straight to Westwood, who hammered home from the edge of the area to complete the turnaround.
“The calmness was key, and I was really pleased with that,” Dyche said. “Twenty-four points in 14 games since Christmas, that’s a fantastic return.”
Dwight McNeil keeps defying his age with consistent performances
As the debate rages on about the lack of first-team opportunities afforded to young Premier League English players, Dwight McNeil emerged here as exhibit A for the correct way to nurture precocious talent.
The 19-year-old Burnley winger was looking for his third goal in three games, which wasn’t forthcoming but that didn’t decrease his influence. The 19-year-old’s pace and trickery set up Burnley’s second goal and forced Eddie Howe to withdraw right-back Nathaniel Clyne at the break.
It helps that Sean Dyche, his manager, has not thrown him in at the deep end too early in a season which has turned into a relegation fight and it has also been useful that Southgate has been a regular visitor to Turf Moor from his home in Yorkshire.
“I didn’t think I’d be here at this stage of the season, being so young, but it’s good for me and I need to add that to my confidence and take it into the games.” Says the 19-year-old Rochdale born youngster. His manager is happy with his performances at a crucial stage in the season and after the latest promising display from McNeil, the Burnley manager responded: “He continues to enjoy the challenge, he continues to enjoy his performances.”
At a time when the fate of youngsters stockpiled by clubs such as Chelsea and Manchester City are denied regular first-team exposure, McNeil is bursting into the spotlight which is a welcome shift of narrative.
Begovic’s place in the starting XI in serious doubt
Eddie Howe has shuffled Boruc & Begovic in the last few games and insisted the experienced Begovic “deserved” his recall for the trip to Leicester, but this insecure display may have convinced the Cherries boss that a new shot-stopper is needed for next season.
Bournemouth are only the second side in Premier League history to concede 60+ goals in four consecutive seasons in the competition, after Wigan Athletic between 2009-10 and 2012-13. Albeit, not the primary, one of the reasons for the plutonic concession of goals has been the form of their goalkeepers. Begovic was the man in the spotlight with two questionable handling of goals on Saturday.
Begovic spilled Charlie Taylor’s cross, which was turned back for Barnes who plundered a third, becoming the second Premier League player this season to score at both ends in the same game.
Bournemouth defence a cause of concern for Eddie Howe
A run of four straight defeats prior to last weekend’s 2-0 win over Wolves had left Burnley sliding alarmingly towards the drop zone.
Another defeat at Bournemouth would have increased the pressure on Dyche’s team before their game with fellow strugglers Cardiff next week, but the Clarets manager could hardly have wished for a better response from his players after such an early setback on the South Coast.
Ake would have had a clear sight of goal had Barnes not tried to get a touch to Ryan Fraser’s in swinging free-kick, but the Burnley forward could only divert the ball beyond his own keeper Tom Heaton and into the corner of the net. The visitors were gifted a route back into the game when Begovic completely misjudged Westwood’s corner with the Bosnian flapping at thin air before Wood directed his downward header into the net.
Burnley’s second was just as poor from a Cherries perspective. Dwight McNeil’s low cross should have been easily dealt with by Mepham, but the 21-year-old scuffed his clearance straight to Westwood, whose powerful effort beat Ake on the goal line.
For the Clarets’ third, Bournemouth appeared to switch off while appealing for a throw-in on the Burnley left and the visitors took full advantage, Wood beating Begovic to a low cross before teeing up Barnes. Dyche’s side could have added a fourth late on too but Ben Mee failed to hit the target with a far-post header.
Burnley midfield at the core of their ‘phenomenal’ form
The Clarets are now eight points clear from the bottom three and they have claimed 24 points from 14 matches since the 5-1 Boxing Day defeat by Everton – which followed a troubling few months in which they won only three times.
At the core of it is the solidarity of Westwood, Cork, McNeil and Hendrick. Westwood’s influence was crucial at Bournemouth when they produced one of their finest displays of the Premier League campaign. The quartet allows the likes of Wood and Barnes to bomb centrally and play route one football and this epitomises the spirit Dyche demands from his team.
“We are in good spirits. It’s in our hands and that’s the way we wanted it. Westwood said. “The character to come here and do that to them just shows what a great side we’ve got. When we are like that, teams can’t live with us. When we’re on it we can match anyone and that’s what we need to do week in, week out.”
What’s next for both?
Burnley have a potential six-pointer when Cardiff visit Turf Moor next Saturday whilst Bournemouth are away to Brighton and Hove Albion on the same day.
