Clarets fall to defeat away from home against Posh
Burnley FC’s U21s were on the losing side against Peterborough United at idVerde Training Ground in Professional Development League action as the game ended 3-1 in favour of the hosts.
Joe Westley gave the Clarets a first half lead before Donay O’Brien Brady levelled for Posh just after the break.
Jacob Wakeling then put the hosts in front and O’Brien-Brady added his second of the game to condemn Burnley to defeat.
There was six changes from the 3-3 draw against Brentford 10 days ago with Charlie Casper, Alex-Healy Byrne, Joe Ashton, Tom Tweedy, Kian Le Fondre and Joe Westley all returning to the side from the start.
First Half
The Clarets began the game on the front foot and were ahead within ten minutes, as Murray Campbell played an expertly placed ball over the top of the Posh defence and Westley was on hand to lob cleverly over the head of Fynn Talley and into the net.
The hosts tried to work an opening to get back into the game, and almost did when the ball broke for winger Wakeling, but he could only tap a tame effort into the gloves of the returning Casper.
Goalscorer Westley took aim once more, this time from a free kick that was 30 yards out, and despite having the power behind it, the ball dropped into the arms of Talley.
Burnley almost doubled their advantage ten minutes before the break, when they broke out of defence at speed with Lewis Richardson driving forward and slotting through Tweedy, who played on to Westley, but the striker could only place his strike wide.
Second Half
In a complete contrast to the first half, the Clarets started the second 45 on the back foot, with Wakeling driving a strike over on the angle, before O’Brien-Brady picked up the ball from the resulting goal kick and hammered a volley into the bottom corner leaving Casper with no chance.
It was Wakeling who was involved again and this time he was the one to score, as Kai Corbett lofted a cross to the back post and he was there and waiting to nod into an empty net and put the hosts ahead.
As the home side began to dominate the ball and the game, O’Brien-Brady latched on to Wakeling’s flick over the top before cutting inside and curling a strike into the far corner to bag his brace.
Tweedy went one-on-one with Talley in the final minute, but the Posh stopper was equal to his effort as the Clarets fell to their first away defeat since the opening game of the season.
The U21s are back in action next Tuesday – as they face Blackburn Rovers in the Central League Cup at the Burnley Training Centre (1pm KO).
Peterborough United: Talley, Dornelly, Mills, McGlinchey, Dreyer ©, Fernandez (Thomas ‘48), Corbett, Chiha (Titchmarsh ‘76), Mothersille (Overton ‘46), O’Brien-Brady, Wakeling
Unused Subs: West, Trialist
Burnley: Casper, Healy-Byrne, Campbell, Sassi, Ashton, Davies, Hugill, Richardson (West ‘57), Tweedy, Westley, Le Fondre (Wane ‘72)
Unused Subs: Waller, Pye, McCoy
Goals: Westley, ‘10, O’Brien-Brady, ‘50, ‘70, Wakeling, ‘60
