For Burnley, this was not a game that evoked excitement, but rather a crushing loss following their impressive win of scoring five goals against the Premier League’s last-ranked team just a few days ago. Even after their dominant 5-0 victory over Sheffield United on Saturday, it was difficult to fully understand the significance of the win, and those who were skeptical were proven right in this match.
The game promised to be more challenging and Hwang Hee-chan’s clean goal in the first half added to his impressive scoring streak, while Burnley continued to struggle away from home. If there were any doubts about the difficulties ahead for the rest of the season, they were confirmed as Wolves emerged victorious despite a lackluster performance under Gary O’Neil.
The Wolves coach expressed his belief that their recent victory was significant, as he has observed Burnley’s strong organization and how other teams have struggled to advance up the field against them. Simply saying “job done” would be disrespectful, as Burnley dominated the Championship and spent a significant amount of money in the summer.
Hwang once again proved to be the game-changer for Wolves, scoring his eighth goal of the season in the later stages of the first half to seal the victory. This puts him in an impressive fourth place for goals scored this season, behind only Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah, and fellow South Korean Son Heung-min. It is no surprise that Wolves are eager for Hwang to extend his contract long-term.
“O’Neil expressed admiration for his impressive statistics. Will he maintain this scoring pace for the remainder of the season? It would be an extraordinary feat to do so. Whenever Channy has possession in the penalty area, I have a strong belief that the ball will result in a goal. This is not a coincidence.”
After Burnley’s victory over Sheffield United, Vincent Kompany celebrated with a glass of red wine. This win marked the last of the 92 clubs in England’s top four tiers to triumph on their home field this season. However, Kompany made it clear that it was time to refocus and get back to work.
At the 42-minute mark, things were going smoothly until Sander Berge was suddenly attacked while receiving a pass from center-back Dara O’Shea, 20 yards away from the Burnley goal. Pablo Sarabia gained control of the ball and passed it to Matheus Cunha, who then passed it to Hwang. Hwang quickly repositioned himself and scored a goal past James Trafford.
Up until then, it appeared that Burnley, if anyone, would have the highest chance of scoring and making the game more exciting, despite the lack of quality. Burnley’s spirits were lifted by their win at Turf Moor, but they were determined to improve their poor record away from home in the division.
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Dan Bentley executed a brilliant save, using his quick thinking to deflect a shot from Josh Brownhill around the post. This occurred after Zeki Amdouni forcefully knocked João Gomes off the ball. Substitute Jóhann Gudmundsson, who came on for the injured Luca Koleosho, set up Jay Rodriguez for a significant opportunity at the 38-minute mark, but Bentley denied his attempt and also handled the subsequent rebound. Manager O’Neil was frustrated that a double save was necessary due to a careless throw-in. He joked, “I’m glad you didn’t have a microphone on me during that moment.”
Burnley had a challenging evening that started off with high hopes, but it was epitomized by Hjalmar Ekdal’s tackle on Cunha at the halfway line as Wolves aggressively pushed forward on the counterattack. Burnley struggled to perform well at crucial moments, while Wolves had a group of skilled players such as Hwang and Sarabia who could step up when necessary.
However, even with their eighth loss in nine games, Kompany’s spirit remains unbroken. The Burnley manager expressed his belief in a resilient and determined team that continues to compete in every match. He also stated that the team has been consistently showing this fighting spirit for some time now and they must hold onto this belief to achieve the desired results.
Source: theguardian.com
