Burnley 4-0 Bournemouth: Clarets move off foot of the table with emphatic win

Aaron LennonImage source, Getty Images
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Aaron Lennon, who joined Burnley in January 2018, scored for the first time in the Premier League since his goal for Everton against Chelsea on 5 March 2016

Burnley boss Sean Dyche said his side were "back to what they're all about" after they moved off the foot of the Premier League with an emphatic first win of the season over Bournemouth at Turf Moor.

The Clarets were 2-0 up by half-time, with goals in quick succession from Matej Vydra and Aaron Lennon just before the break.

Bournemouth dominated in the second half, but Burnley substitute Ashley Barnes converted after Johann Berg Gudmundsson hit the post to extend the lead before adding his second just before the end.

"We told the players we've got to get back to what we're about and I'm pleased we've got that first win. It's a start," said Dyche.

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Sean Dyche proud Burnley 'fought' for first win of season

Burnley's win, their first in 10 league games, moved them up to 16th in the table while Bournemouth dropped to seventh place.

"I was pleased with our energy and control of the game early on. We were making chances, forcing them back and being creative in different ways - they were four good goals for different reasons," added the Clarets manager..

Bournemouth had enjoyed the better of an even first half before Burnley's goals, hitting the bar when Nathan Ake's shot deflected over Burnley goalkeeper Joe Hart and onto the woodwork.

Hart made a good save with his feet to deny David Brooks in the second half, but Bournemouth, for all their pressure, could not make their dominance count and were punished by Barnes' late strikes.

Dyche can see clearly now

Dyche had spoken of "lifting the fog" in the wake of last Sunday's defeat at Wolves that meant Burnley had made their worst start to a top-flight season since 1927.

This determined display, following a dispiriting start to the season, should have started to do that with the Lancashire side reclaiming the hard-to-beat quality that helped them finish seventh last season.

Image source, PA
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Matej Vydra's first league goal for Burnley came in his first Premier League start for the club

They lived dangerously at times, with Ake striking the crossbar, Hart saving to thwart Brooks and Callum Wilson just short of reaching a cross while the score was still 0-0.

But Dyche will be delighted that his team, who had scored only three league goals before this game, took their chances when they came.

Vydra marked his first Premier League start for Burnley since arriving from Derby with a clinical finish while Lennon timed his run at the far post to perfection to score his first league goal since March 2016.

Burnley absorbed multiple attacks from their visitors after the break, and Hart's save, made with England manager Gareth Southgate watching from the stands at Turf Moor, proved to be crucial before Barnes applied the finishing touches.

Cherries fail to make possession count

Bournemouth's start to the season had been in sharp contrast to Burnley's, with Eddie Howe's side rising to fifth thanks to a strong defensive mindset added to the attacking flair for which they are known.

But the Cherries boss will have left the ground where he was in charge from January 2011 to October 2012 wondering how they departed empty-handed.

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Scoreline doesn't tell story of game - Eddie Howe

Bournemouth had 63% of the possession overall, but failing to convert that into goals - and a spell of two minutes where they allowed their hosts to put daylight between the two sides before the break - was crucial.

For all the time on the ball in the second half, Howe's side needed more threat inside the Burnley area and the introduction of Jermain Defoe with 12 minutes left finally gave the south coast club an edge.

But they left themselves open to counterattacks and suffered the consequences late on for not taking advantage when they had the chance.

Man of the match - Aaron Lennon (Burnley)

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

The former England international looks rejuvenated, coming in off the left flank to score and racing down the right wing to set up Barnes' second goal late on

'They left themselves open'- what the managers said

Burnley manager Sean Dyche: "We had to defend diligently. Then they left themselves open and we capitalised on that.

"We made some massive chances against Southampton and Watford and didn't take them - today we did.

"I don't think Bournemouth were knocking on the door too much. It was an important save by Joe Hart but it would have been unjust for them to get something because I thought we were very good overall."

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe: "I don't think it was a 4-0 performance. We were well in the game and had chances, but we didn't take them.

"We had them penned in at 2-0 and we were one goal from changing the entire mood of the game but we never got that goal and conceded two on the break.

"We're very disappointed to concede four. That didn't look on the cards early in game. We knew coming here that we'd have to defend crosses and set-plays well and we didn't do that.

"We also had the ball in good areas and different decisions could have led to a different outcome. We know how unforgiving the league is, and if you come off your high standards then you get beaten so we need to address that."

BBC Sport pundit Danny Murphy on Match of the Day: "Johann Berg Gudmundsson was just about the star of the show but Aaron Lennon did really, really well.

"He has a sweet left foot but Aaron Lennon was getting in at the back post. I love a winger who can go either way. His all-round game was terrific. The Bournemouth full-backs couldn't cope with either of them.

"It was like the Burnley we saw last season. I think they will be absolutely fine. They have two big games coming up which could get them back on track."

Quickfire Clarets - the stats you need to know

  • There were only 125 seconds between Burnley's first and second goals.

  • Burnley scored four goals against Bournemouth, as many as in their previous eight Premier League games combined.

  • Bournemouth have kept only one clean sheet in their last 15 away Premier League games, shipping 30 goals in those fixtures.

  • Matej Vydra is the fifth player to score on his first Premier League start for Burnley, after Daniel Fox, Scott Arfield, Robbie Brady and Chris Wood.

  • Aaron Lennon scored his first Premier League goal in 55 appearances, since netting for Everton against West Ham on March 5th 2016.

  • Johann Berg Gudmundsson has registered 12 Premier League assists for Burnley, seven more than any other player.

  • Ashley Barnes scored two goals in a Premier League game for the first time, on his 105th appearance.

What's next?

Burnley travel to Burton Albion in the EFL Cup at 19:45 BST on Tuesday, and are away again the Premier League next weekend, heading to Cardiff City on Sunday 30 September at 16:00.

Bournemouth host another east Lancashire side, Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Cup on Tuesday at 19:45, and then welcome Crystal Palace to Dorset on Monday, 1 Octpber at 20:00.

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