Burnley 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers: Clarets held in Premier League

Jacob Bruun Larsen scores for BurnleyImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Jacob Bruun Larsen (right) has scored two goals in his past three Burnley matches

Burnley missed out on boosting their Premier League survival hopes as they were held to a frustrating draw by Wolves at Turf Moor.

Jacob Bruun Larsen put the hosts in front after 37 minutes by superbly tucking away Dara O'Shea's cross.

But Wolves levelled just before half-time when Rayan Ait-Nouri headed in Pablo Sarabia's wide free-kick.

Burnley boss Vincent Kompany criticised the decision to award Ait-Nouri the free-kick which led to his equaliser.

Referee Thomas Bramall adjudged O'Shea to have fouled the Algeria international but replays suggested very minimal contact between the pair.

"It's absolutely clear it's not a foul," Kompany told BBC Match of the Day. "The lad just slides over after he tries a pirouette.

"I get it - we all make mistakes, but it's just too much, it's too easy. [The referee] was in the best position."

Burnley remain 19th in the table and are now six points from safety after Nottingham Forest's win over Fulham.

If results had gone their way on Tuesday the Clarets could have moved within a point of safety.

However, their failure to find a winner means they lost ground on relegation rivals Forest, while fellow strugglers Everton snatched a late draw at Newcastle.

'Referee mistakes just keep happening'

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Burnley 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers: Free-kick for equaliser clearly not a foul - Kompany

Earlier this week Kompany, who was sent off in his side's 2-2 draw with Chelsea on Saturday, said the standard of refereeing in the Premier League this season "hasn't been good enough".

And after the Wolves game he told Match of the Day: "It just keeps happening. I think in the last game I was definitely not right in the way I reacted, I don't want to do that. I react calmly now, but I still see the same pattern."

Burnley have won just once in all competitions since 23 December and this match felt like an opportunity missed.

The Clarets started cautiously with full-back Vitinho testing Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa in the first half, before they took the lead through Bruun Larsen's tidy finish.

Even after being pegged back, the hosts had spells of dominance after the restart and created chances to regain the advantage.

Goalscorer Bruun Larsen should have doubled his tally in the 58th minute, but he fired Vitinho's cutback straight at Sa.

The Wolves keeper also did well to keep out a Wilson Odobert shot moments later that had deflected wickedly off a defender.

Substitute Jay Rodriguez managed to find the net late on but his strike was rightly ruled out for offside.

Burnley are away to fellow strugglers Everton in their next match on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Cunha return will boost toothless Wolves

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Burnley 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers: O'Neil praises 'dogged' and 'hungry' Wolves

Wolves, who ended a two-match winless run, missed a handful of chances to open the scoring midway through the first half.

Joao Gomes met Matt Doherty's header across goal but could only flick an effort over the bar when well-placed in the area, before Leon Chiwome dragged a shot wide under pressure when inside the box.

After the restart, Burnley had most of the ball but Wolves continued to create on the counter-attack and had the best chances in the closing stages.

Ait-Nouri was denied by Burnley keeper Arijanet Muric when through on goal, while Mario Lemina's looping header from range glanced the outside of the post.

The visitors will be boosted by the return of Matheus Cunha, who came off the bench late on to make his first appearance since injuring his hamstring in February.

"It was a good effort from the lads," Wolves boss Gary O'Neil told Match of the Day. "We're not at full strength at the moment, but we're working really hard and still fighting.

"Cunha's back and a point away from home takes us past last season's tally. Not a bad evening."

They host West Ham in their next match on Saturday (15:00).

Part of stand evacuated over safety concerns

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

The Jimmy McIlroy Stand was built in 1996

During the first half, supporters were moved from a section of the Jimmy McIlroy Stand over safety concerns about the stadium's roof.

A piece of metal could be seen hanging from the stand's roof above supporters.

Some seating was cordoned off by stewards with the match continuing unaffected.

The area was then kept clear for the remainder of the game.

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