Bournemouth 0-1 Burnley: Jay Rodriguez scores last-minute winner for Clarets

Jay RodriguezImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

This was Jay Rodriguez's first goal in eight matches for Burnley

Burnley's Jay Rodriguez scored an 89th-minute winner to beat Bournemouth in a dire match at Vitality Stadium.

There had not been a single shot on target from either side until substitute Rodriguez headed in from close range following Ashley Westwood's cross.

Jefferson Lerma's 30-yard effort for the hosts went well over the top and Chris Mepham's second-half header went wide.

A physical Burnley side had offered little as an attacking threat in a disrupted match littered with fouls and strong challenges before Rodriguez's winner.

Six players were booked - two from Bournemouth and four from the Clarets.

Defenders impress as Burnley gain rare away win

The three points for Burnley takes them up to 10th in the Premier League table and comes after Sean Dyche's side frustrated the hosts, who failed to register a single shot on target.

For a second successive game, goalkeeper Nick Pope did not have a save to make, after Burnley shut out Newcastle in a 1-0 victory a week ago.

But, in a match played in filthy wet and windy conditions on the south coast, the Clarets' central defensive partnership of Ben Mee and James Tarkowski were excellent - both making seven clearances.

Burnley won 3-1 at the Vitality Stadium last season on 6 April but had only gained one away Premier League victory since then before this latest success.

It was not pretty, but no-one from Burnley will care about that as they picked up another three valuable points, their second win in a row having lost the previous three games.

Bournemouth injury problems provide test for Howe

This match featured the two longest-serving Premier League managers. When Eddie Howe left Burnley to return to Bournemouth for a second spell as manager in October 2012, it created the vacancy for Sean Dyche, who has been Clarets boss ever since.

But while Dyche will see his side in the top half at Christmas, these are worrying times for Howe, whose team are 14th but only four points above the relegation zone.

Bournemouth have not been helped by a lengthy injury list that includes Nathan Ake, Adam Smith, Steve Cook, top scorer Harry Wilson, Charlie Daniels and David Brooks, although England striker Callum Wilson, who missed the 1-0 win over Chelsea with a hamstring injury, returned to action when he came on as a half-time substitute.

The hosts' injury problems looked to have continued early on when captain Simon Francis was caught by a boot to the head by Burnley's Ashley Barnes.

However, after a lengthy stoppage, Francis was able to carry on and saw out the rest of the match sporting a large bandage on his head.

Ryan Fraser was also on the receiving end of a number of strong challenges, including a header from Tarkowski that left Fraser with a bloodied nose after he landed heavily on the turf.

This loss means Bournemouth have now only won twice in 13 matches in all competitions, although those wins came against Manchester United and Chelsea.

Man of the match - James Tarkowski (Burnley)

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Burnley centre-half James Tarkowski made seven clearances, one tackle and won 82% of his aerial duels

'Hugely disappointed' - what they said

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe said: "It was not a great game, the conditions played a part in that.

"Burnley did what they do, we expected the game that it was but we need to do better. It was a much better second half and we were the better team but could not break down a physical defence.

"It is how they play, it is up to the referee to control the game. We paid the price for not marking from a ball into the box.

"We feel hugely disappointed to lose the game. The first half was very scrappy, to lose the game is a devastating blow. It was not one for the purists, a lot of free-kicks given away and you know every free-kick will come into your box.

"There were a lot of challenges in the game that need reviewing."

Burnley manager Sean Dyche said: "It was super poor conditions, a poor game but we stuck to the task. It is hard to find ways of winning and we managed to do that.

"The pleasing thing is, in the second half they were better than us, but we stayed resolute to the task.

"[Nick] Pope has had minimal to do regarding saves and we found a moment. There was not a lot of goalmouth action, not a great game but we get three points. We hope and want to play better but we get the three points.

"What a header from J-Rod. We know we have to play better away. At this stage of last season we were on 12 points, it was really ugly, but we managed to find a way."

Longest wait for a shot on target in more than 10 years - the stats

  • Burnley have registered two wins in their last three away Premier League games, as many as they managed in their 14 before that (drew six, lost six).

  • Bournemouth have lost three consecutive home league games for the first time since April 2016.

  • Burnley have won five of their seven Premier League meetings with Bournemouth (lost two), including each of the last three fixtures.

  • The total of five shots produced in the game is the lowest tally of attempts in a Premier League game since 2003-04 (when this data was first recorded).

  • The first and only shot on target of the game came in the 89th minutes, the longest wait for a shot on target in a Premier League game since May 2009 (90 minutes, Bolton v Sunderland).

  • Burnley's Jay Rodriguez has scored four goals against Bournemouth in the Premier League, more than he has managed against any other side in the competition.

  • Burnley's Ashley Westwood has registered two assists in his last two Premier League games, as many as he managed in his previous 18.

What's next?

Both teams are next in action on 26 December in the first of three Premier League games each inside a week. Bournemouth entertain Arsenal in Mikel Arteta's first match in charge of the Gunners before the Cherries are away at Brighton two days later and travel to West Ham on New Year's Day.

On Thursday, Burnley are away at Everton, who will be managed by Carlo Ancelotti for the first time. The Clarets then have two home fixtures - against Manchester United on 28 December and Aston Villa on 1 January.

Sorry, we can't display this part of the article any more.