Burnley came from behind to beat Aston Villa 3 – 2. Villa had been 2-1 ahead with 14 minutes remaining before Dwight McNeil’s low cross evaded everyone for an equaliser and the midfielder then crossed for Wood to score Burnley’s third. Chris Wood headed in a late winner as Burnley came from behind twice to grab an unlikely victory against Aston Villa in a thrilling match at Turf Moor.
The visitors dominated the first half and had gone in front when Ollie Watkins flicked the ball into the net following Matt Targett’s low cross from the left. After a number of fine saves by Clarets goalkeeper Nick Pope, the hosts levelled through Ben Mee’s header, only for Villa to regain the lead with Jack Grealish’s half-volley.
But Burnley, who had only scored five times in their previous eight home Premier League matches this season, found two more goals to ease their relegation concerns.
They remain 15th in the table, but are 10 points ahead of 18th-placed Fulham, who play away at fellow strugglers Brighton on Wednesday. Superb Pope performance denies Villa
For Dean Smith’s Villa, who remain 10th, they will be wondering just how they failed to take all three points and then left Lancashire empty-handed.
Within only three minutes, the away side should have gone ahead when Ezri Konsa headed over when well placed, before Watkins was the first of many players to be denied by England international Pope.
Watkins flicked Villa into a 13th-minute lead, but Pope then saved from the impressive Grealish and in a one-on-one chance with Watkins, with Ross Barkley then shooting against the crossbar with the rebound.
But Villa kept on creating chances as Bertrand Traore’s strike was blocked by Mee, with Pope showing great reflexes to then save Tyrone Mings’ follow-up. Targett was the next man to be frustrated and the missed opportunities continued to come in the second half with John McGinn also denied.
With the score at 1-1, Grealish, following a superb individual run from the halfway line, saw his strike blocked by Pope, although Grealish then got a deserved goal before Pope then stopped Watkins making it 3-1 to Villa. The hosts ended strongly and goals from McNeil and Wood, both coming inside a three-minute spell, gave Burnley the three points.
Source – BBC News
