REPUBLIC OF IRELAND’S Robbie Brady scored what proved to be the winner for Burnley in their Premier League clash against Bournemouth.
The 2-1 win puts Burnley above Tottenham in sixth place on the Premier League table, with the goals coming from Chris Wood as well as Brady.
Sean Dyche’s men only amassed seven away points in the entirety of last season, but have already doubled that tally this term thanks to a second successive win on the road.
It was no more than Burnley – denied a point against Arsenal on Sunday thanks to a last-gasp Alexis Sanchez penalty – deserved for a textbook away display, with the visitors industrious when in possession and typically solid at the back.
Wood’s first-half goal was just reward for a hard-working performance that had already seen him hit the crossbar before opening the scoring, albeit thanks to a lucky bounce off Steve Cook.
Brady seemingly made sure of the points just after the hour with a superb hit from 20 yards, but Josh King’s goal 11 minutes from time at least kept things interesting.
The Clarets saw it out, though, with a win seeing them climb a place to sixth, and they incredibly sit just three points outside the top four.
Eddie Howe, a former Burnley boss, had seen his team keep three straight clean sheets but saw his team drop a place to 15th on a miserable 40th birthday.
Burnley were first to test the waters with Ben Mee nodding Robbie Brady’s corner into the path of Wood, whose looping header hit the top of the crossbar.
The New Zealand international knew little about his next effort. A cross from Phil Bardsley – making his first Burnley league appearance for 4,245 days having enjoyed a loan spell in 2006 – hit him on the head, bounced into the ground and was tipped over by Asmir Begovic with Brady’s presence putting his team-mate off.
Shortly after, Wood raced into the penalty area and unselfishly squared for Jeff Hendrick, who was denied only by a brilliant recovery block from Cook.
The pressure eventually told in the 37th minute, though. Jack Cork picked up Brady’s brilliant flick and drove forward before returning the pass to his team-mate, and the winger’s cross ricocheted kindly off Cook into the path of Wood, who prodded into an unguarded goal.
Bournemouth tried to muster a response either side of the break, but a lack of quality in the final third coupled with some stoic Burnley defending meant chances were few and far between. And their hopes of a comeback were hit when Brady’s brilliant effort doubled the visitors’ lead in the 65th minute.
A lightning counter-attack led to Johann Gudmundsson teeing up Brady, who shifted onto his weaker right foot and lashed an effort into the top-right corner, via a slight deflection off Nathan Ake.
Bournemouth undeservedly found a route back into the match in the closing stages, Callum Wilson cleverly diverting Ryan Fraser’s pass into the path of Jermain Defoe with his chest, before the England striker’s cross found its way to King, who bundled in from close range.
The home side tried to launch a late assault for an equaliser, but Burnley held firm for the win to continue a stunning first half of the 2017-18 campaign.
- Omni
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Pity he couldn’t do same ref Republic
@billy Dorney: think he’s not alone there. Ireland under MON play way too negative to get the best of our limited enough squad with Brady being one of only a few that possess some decent quality.
@billy Dorney: you prob seen loads of goals like that in the Loi Billy? same as Griffiths for celtic.
@Ado Smith: MONs tactics aren’t to blame for constantly not being able to clear the first man from corners/free kicks. I wouldn’t be a MON fan by any stretch if the imagination but Brady has been terrible for country for a long time now
@Kieran: MON would rightfully say he has probably got as much out of this squad as is possible but Brady being poor for a few matches including club (Euros weren’t that long ago where he was excellent!) doesn’t say he’s suddenly a crap player. Not the only one who has being poor for us, McLean being the obvious exception. Just not good enough at the moment but terrible to watch when O’Neill is nearly as distrusting of his players as Trappatoni to play anyway expansive.
@@baz6375: watch the LOI Goal of the Month Competition recently. Screamers every week
@Zossima: I have watched them.havent seen any free kicks as good as Griffiths.its all opinion though I know.
@Ado Smith: McLean has been a real tryer for us.i think only for that goal against Wales we wouldn’t be bigging him up as much though.that goal papers over a lot of cracks as good as it was. I see him back in the championship soon tbh.hes all about effort as opposed to technique.that only gets ya so far,especially in the position he plays as well.
@@baz6375: Your 100% right but with MON system he was essential. All the one now. Don’t think we’ll be at another major championship anytime soon unfortunately
@Ado Smith: ya.agree on both counts. unfortunately.
@Ado Smith: agree
@@baz6375: certainly did, have a look at paddy mccourts wonder goal last season, reminiscent of George Best
@Zossima: well said
@@baz6375: have u been to many LOI games last season? If so where? If not, why not?
@billy Dorney: been to see City few times Billy.league is definitely improved.I can admit that
@Ado Smith: sadly, you’re probably right
Just shows that MON didnt know how to utilise certain players because hendrick and brady are quality for burnley and poor for ireland
He’s in my fantasy team lovely
Can’t see the video, is there an alternative link?
@Jack O’Connell: cheers jack
Brady , Hendrick and Ward can play football for Burnley and Martin O’ Neill only lets them play hoofball for Ireland .
Martin O’ Neill has fallen behind todays football . Give us a manager that wants to play some football at least .
Wonderful things can happen when the manager decides to play the player in the actual position he built his reputation playing in. Think Brady ended up playing about 3 different positions in that Denmark game, as MON’s old mentor famously said ‘football is a simple game made complicated by idiots’. MON’s tactics as Ireland manager are idiotic!!