Burnley display guts, heart, spirit, but also quality in beating Luton Town to go…..

October 4, 2023 admin Burnley 0

Having been beaten by five sides currently positioned in the top half of the table in their opening six games, the Clarets were flailing.

In terms of results they were, anyway, performances might have told a different story. But as we all know it’s results that dictate the mood and the narrative and three points were required to dispel any early season nerves more than anything.

Facing a fellow newly-promoted side offered a priceless opportunity to get that monkey off their back, but it also would have piled on more pressure had the result not turned out to be so positive.

Not only was the result a huge step forward for the Clarets, in claiming that long-awaited first league win of the season at the seventh attempt, it was also the manner of it which will be of huge benefit in the long run.

Much is said, especially in the national media outlets, about Burnley’s pretty passing and supposed stubbornness in Vincent Kompany’s style.

But up to now, not a great deal has been spoken about their character, their willingness to fight and battle and roll their sleeves up when the chips are down.

It was fitting that Kompany quoted Mike Tyson after the game – everybody has a plan until you’re punched in the face – because that perfectly encapsulated this trip to Kenilworth Road.

In the first-half, Burnley’s plan was going swimmingly. Yes Luton had their spells, they always do at home when their fans are up and they’re launching the ball into the box from all angles.

But generally it was the away side that were well on top, playing through Rob Edwards’ side who do give up space when they commit so many men forward with their press.

Chances came and went, good ones too, and the fear was the Clarets would be sucker-punched for their failure to convert pressure into goals.

But the half ended with a deserved opener, as the returning Lyle Foster – who added so much to Burnley’s game aside from his goal – slotted home in composed style after being played in through the middle by the marauding Sander Berge, who was strong all night.

The second-half was a different story though. The Hatters plugged those leaks in the middle of the park and were able to sustain large periods of pressure as a result. The ball just kept coming back and back.

An equaliser felt like it was an inevitably, it was a case of when, not if. Lo and behold, seven minutes from time, Elijah Adebayo – player who caused Burnley plenty of problems in the Championship last season – came off the bench to level things up.

At that stage of the game, with momentum on their side, there only looked to be one winner. But this is where Burnley deserve huge credit.

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