Burnley (A) 19/05/24

Burnley 1-2 Nottingham Forest

Cullen 72'             Wood 2', 14'

 

Last week, I wasn't able to attend the game as I was at a concert. I wasn't able to watch the game either, hence me not writing a report. Thank you for all the support this season and I look forward to getting back writing next season!

The Reds had almost guaranteed their Premier League status. The only way they would find themselves in the dreaded drop zone is if Luton and Burnley could pull of a combined miracle and overturn Forest’s 12 goal cushion in goal difference. Forest fans felt confident and had their party hats on but as for the players, they still had their eyes on survival.

Nuno’s side had the chance to mathematically confirm their top-flight status last weekend but fell short as Chelsea scored 2 goals in 2 minutes late on to seal a 3-2 victory. Luckily for the Reds, West Ham came from behind to beat Luton, breaking the hearts of all those who believed they had a chance. As for Burnley, their relegation was confirmed last weekend at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium at they fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat. The Clarets' last home win came back in March which was only their second home victory this season. Forest were looking for their fourth away win of the season which is an improvement from last season, where they only defeated Southampton away from home.

Forest got off to a flying start. They took the lead just 76 seconds in through ex-Burnley striker, Chris Wood. Anthony Elanga received the ball down the right before driving towards the Burnley box. He drove a low cross towards the back post where the New Zealand international was lurking to smash a first time left-footed finish home. The Reds were not messing around. They were 2 goals to the good 14 minutes in. Callum Hudson-Odoi played Morgan Gibbs-White in down the left side of the box as he got away from his marker. He cut inside to try and make his angle towards goal easier but he quickly became surrounded by Claret shirts. The attacking midfielder played the ball back to the edge of the box for an on running Ryan Yates who shot towards goal. Wood got his foot in front of the shot to poke it beyond Muric who would’ve saved the original shot but was thrown off by the change in angle from Wood.

The linesman flagged for offside before any Forest celebrations could take place. After a long VAR check, Graham Scott pointed to the centre circle and the goal was awarded. It was shown on replays Wood was miles onside. Burnley looked to respond but a shot from just 8 yards away was blasted well over by Amdouni. The hosts had another good chance following a lovely one-two on the edge of the box between Lyle Foster and Odobert. Burnley’s number 17 fired at goal but Toffolo got down well to block the shot and send it for a corner. The Clarets’ dominant end to the half could’ve seen them pull a goal back through another shot from Amdouni. He blasted a low shot at goal from 25 yards out which Matz Sels was relieved to see whistle past the far post.

Burnley had 73% possession in the first half and registered 10 shots at goal compared to Forest’s 27% possession and 5 shots. The hosts tried to start the second half as they ended the first, with substitutions to wish farewells, but it was the Reds who came out on top. Gibbs-White looked to curl a shot into the top right corner from the edge of the box but his attempt was saved well by Muric who got his fingertips to it. With 18 minutes left to go, Burnley had a lifeline. Vitinho passed to Josh Cullen who drove towards goal and took a shot from the edge of the ‘D’. His effort took a huge deflection off Murillo’s leg, leaving Sels routed, and nestled into the bottom left corner. The final chance of the game came from Odobert whose shot from the edge of the box fired just wide of the right post as Sels looked like having no chance of reaching the attempt.

The hosts dominated the game, registering 20 goals compared to their average 11 shots per game. They also had the majority of possession but it was the Reds who took their early chances to see them survive by 6 points. This was Forest’s first win over Burnley in 7 games after loosing 2 and drawing 4 in the two sides previous fixtures.

I think we were poor on the weekend and made a disappointing Burnley side this season look decent. The players already knew we were pretty much safe so I don’t know if this had any effect on our overall performance. Woody’s second was his 14^th league goal of the season and he has definitely played his part in keeping us up and completely won us the game on Sunday. Gibbs-White also played well and with his record this season, I’m very surprised not to see him in the provisional England squad. Murillo was solid as usual and I’m glad he won player of the season as he was my personal vote but it was close between him and MGW. I had a very good day out with my fellow Forest fans and we were all singing and dancing way before the game and way after kickoff. The ending of the game was nice to see with the players all coming over as we individually sang their names. Let’s hope we manage to keep our key players. Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to take our inflatable doll dressed as Stuart Atwell in, which got many laughs but I still had fun in the sun.

 

Burnley: Muric; Taylor (Rodriquez 75'), Esteve, O'Shea, Assignon (Vitinho 46'); Amdouni (Brownhill 75'), Berge, Cullen (Cork 83'), Larsen (Gudmundsson 46'); Foster, Odobert

 

Forest: Sels; Montiel, Murillo, Boly, Toffolo; Yates (Sangare 56'), Danilo (Niakhate 80'); Elanga (Kouyate 88'), Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi (Ribiero 88'); Wood (Awoniyi 79')