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Jay Rodriguez is the first Premier League player to score in the opening 15 seconds of two separate top-flight matchesBurnley thrashed 10-man Sheffield United to record a significant Premier League win and pile huge pressure on Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom.
The Clarets had lost their past six league games and all seven at home this term, but moved off the bottom of the table, beating their fellow relegation candidates for a priceless second victory of the season.
Striker Rodriguez's stooping header from Charlie Taylor's pinpoint cross was the fastest in the top flight this season and gave Burnley a blistering start and a lead which they did not relinquish.
On-loan winger Jacob Bruun Larsen doubled their lead with a cool finish after latching on to Dara O'Shea's long ball over the top as Burnley took total control.
The Blades were visibly frustrated and saw Oli McBurnie sent off for two moments of madness - the striker was fortunate to receive only a yellow card for an elbow into the face of O'Shea, but he inexplicably repeated the act in a separate challenge and was dismissed before half-time.
Burnley were dominant in the second period as Zeki Amdouni confidently drilled in a low finish, Luca Koleosho smashed in at the near post after hitting the woodwork and Josh Brownhill struck a fifth.
Burnley leapfrog their opponents into 18th place, two points adrift of safety, while Sheffield United remain a point off the foot of the table.
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Five-star showing from Clarets
Burnley boss Kompany has billed this game as "massive" for both teams in the build-up and it was his side who kept cool heads with a fabulous victory as they look to kick-start a faltering campaign.
The Clarets had not collected a Premier League point since winning 2-1 at Luton on 3 October, and this highly impressive showing two months on was also against a side who came up with them from the Championship.
Rodriguez's early goal put them on the front foot and having dropped 14 points from winning positions this season - the most by any top-flight team - they managed to push on and take apart their opponents in a calm and assured manner.
The veteran striker could have had another in the 10th minute but could not find the target with his strike - Larsen, though, did roll home a calm finish to put his side in command.
Burnley popped the ball around confidently thereafter and there were no signs of the individual mistakes that have blighted them so much this term, as they took their chances in the second half for a valuable triumph.
More to follow.
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Burnley
Squad number1Player nameTrafford
Squad number22Player nameVitinho
Squad number2Player nameO'Shea
Squad number5Player nameBeyer
Squad number3Player nameTaylor
Squad number34Player nameBruun Larsen
Squad number16Player nameBerge
Squad number8Player nameBrownhill
Squad number30Player nameKoleosho
Squad number9Player nameRodríguez
Squad number25Player nameAmdouni
Squad number7Player nameGudmundsson
Squad number15Player nameRedmond
Squad number18Player nameEkdal
Squad number31Player nameTrésor
Squad number45Player nameObafemi
Sheffield United
Squad number18Player nameFoderingham
Squad number15Player nameAhmedhodzic
Squad number19Player nameRobinson
Squad number5Player nameTrusty
Squad number2Player nameBaldock
Squad number16Player nameNorwood
Squad number4Player nameFleck
Squad number14Player nameThomas
Squad number8Player nameHamer
Squad number10Player nameArcher
Squad number9Player nameMcBurnie
Squad number11Player nameTraoré
Squad number20Player nameBogle
Squad number28Player nameMcAtee
Squad number32Player nameOsula
Line-ups
Burnley
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Trafford
- 22da Silva
- 2O'SheaBooked at 38minsSubstituted forEkdalat 83'minutes
- 5BeyerBooked at 67mins
- 3Taylor
- 34Bruun LarsenSubstituted forGudmundssonat 65'minutes
- 16Berge
- 8Brownhill
- 30KoleoshoSubstituted forTrésorat 77'minutes
- 9RodríguezSubstituted forObafemiat 77'minutes
- 25AmdouniSubstituted forRedmondat 77'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Gudmundsson
- 15Redmond
- 18Ekdal
- 21A Ramsey
- 29Vigouroux
- 31Trésor
- 42Massengo
- 45Obafemi
- 47Odobert
Sheff Utd
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 18Foderingham
- 15AhmedhodzicBooked at 72mins
- 19Robinson
- 5Trusty
- 2BaldockSubstituted forBogleat 25'minutes
- 16Norwood
- 4FleckBooked at 34minsSubstituted forOsulaat 45'minutesBooked at 64mins
- 14ThomasBooked at 43minsSubstituted forMcAteeat 45'minutes
- 8HamerBooked at 72mins
- 10ArcherSubstituted forTraoréat 45'minutes
- 9McBurnieBooked at 45mins
Substitutes
- 1Davies
- 3Lowe
- 11Traoré
- 20Bogle
- 21de Souza Costa
- 25Ben Slimane
- 27Larouci
- 28McAtee
- 32Osula
Live Text
Match ends, Burnley 5, Sheffield United 0.
Second Half ends, Burnley 5, Sheffield United 0.
Attempt saved. Josh Brownhill (Burnley) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jóhann Gudmundsson.
Mike Trésor (Burnley) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Oliver Norwood (Sheffield United).
Corner, Burnley. Conceded by Jack Robinson.
Attempt blocked. Jordan Beyer (Burnley) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jóhann Gudmundsson with a cross.
Corner, Burnley. Conceded by Auston Trusty.
Attempt blocked. Jóhann Gudmundsson (Burnley) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Nathan Redmond.
Offside, Burnley. Jóhann Gudmundsson is caught offside.
Attempt saved. William Osula (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by James McAtee.
Attempt missed. Vitinho (Burnley) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Jóhann Gudmundsson.
Hjalmar Ekdal (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by William Osula (Sheffield United).
Substitution, Burnley. Hjalmar Ekdal replaces Dara O'Shea.
Foul by Sander Berge (Burnley).
James McAtee (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Goal! Burnley 5, Sheffield United 0. Josh Brownhill (Burnley) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner.
Attempt missed. Michael Obafemi (Burnley) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Jóhann Gudmundsson.
Substitution, Burnley. Mike Trésor replaces Luca Koleosho.
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