Second-half fight-back snatches point for Burnley against Fulham
Uneventful would perhaps be the best way to describe the opening stages at Turf Moor, with little to report aside from a Sander Berge strike from distance.
It was the visitors who eventually settled the quicker and it didn’t take them long to take the lead either.
Those who have watched Burnley before this season, including Fulham’s set-piece coach, will have been all too aware of their vulnerabilities from corners and that was the avenue of their opener as João Palhinha flicked home Andreas Pereira’s delivery at the near post.
It didn’t take long for one to become two, and in truly calamitous circumstances for the Clarets defence, one hopeful joist forward baffled the whole back four before Rodrigo Muniz lifted the ball over a hapless James Trafford.
The despondent Turf Moor faithful, who had seen their side lose nine of their 11 home league games this season prior to this afternoon, booed their side off at the break, and as Vincent Kompany trudged down the tunnel at HT, he was left pondering if there was anything he could do to turn the game around.
The Clarets boss made the decision to introduce new centre-back Maxime Estève, but even he couldn’t help stem the Fulham flow, with the first 10 minutes after the restart consisting of incessant Cottagers pressure that so nearly told when Trafford denied Willian from distance.
Something seemed to switch in the Clarets’ mindset when David Datro Fofana was introduced though, and his introduction soon paid dividends when fellow home debutant Lorenz Assignon floated a perfect cross onto his head to halve the arrears.
Fulham’s game management from therein was to be admired, but ultimately they couldn't see out the game, with Fofana again on hand to bundle the ball over the line and break Fulham hearts.
It’s no doubt a point gained for Burnley but in their battle to beat the drop, they may be disheartened not to have secured all three points, which would’ve been their goal before the game.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Andres Pereira (Fulham)
