Burnley Retain Early Play-Off Slot

Burnley Retain Early Play-Off Slot

Burnley remain well placed in the EFL Championship going into the first international break of the season despite seeing an early winning run come to an end.

The Bristol Street Motors-backed side had kicked off the new campaign with two successive wins against Luton Town and Cardiff City, with game three of the season being a trip to the North East to face Sunderland.

On what would prove to be a challenging afternoon for Scott Parker and his side, a goal from Romain Mundle proved to be the difference as the Clarets were defeated for the first time since being relegated from the Premier League at the end of the previous season.

The second round of the EFL Cup provided an opportunity to go up against Wolves at Molineaux, with Parker fielding a much changed line-up that included debuts for Hannibal Mejbri, Bashir Humphreys and Joe Worrall.

The Premier League side would prove to be too strong on the night as Goncalo Guedes hit the net twice to secure victory, and leave Parker and his side to focus – for now – on the league programme.

The East Lancashire derby was next up as Blackburn Rovers arrived at Turf Moor, and the visitors could have gone ahead in the first minute after a mistake from James Trafford went unpunished by Andreas Weimann.

From there however, Burnley had the better of the early chances and hit the front with ten minutes gone when Jaidon Anthony crossed for Lyle Foster to head the ball into the net beyond Aynsley Pears for the opening goal.

Luca Koleosho then forced Pears into a smart save to prevent Burnley going further clear before Weimann smashed in a stunning equaliser from 30 yards to bring Blackburn level.

Blackburn had a second goal disallowed and were then reduced to ten men when Makhtar Gueye was dismissed for a second booking, but Burnley were unable to find the winning goal and had to settle for a point.

It means Burnley sit sixth going into the international break, with the next game being a trip across the Pennines to face Leeds United on 14 September.

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