Classy Odobert strike helps Burnley win at Fulham

2 years ago 33
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Burnley's players celebrate after Wilson Odobert's opening goal for the Clarets against FulhamWilson Odobert scored his third Premier League goal for Burnley at Craven Cottage

Wilson Odobert's stunning goal helped Burnley climb off the bottom of the table as victory at Fulham secured their third Premier League win of the season.

French winger Odobert curled the ball home in style two minutes into the second half to put the Clarets ahead.

Sander Berge then arrowed in a second for Vincent Kompany's side with a low strike into the corner of the net.

Fulham were left to rue missed chances as Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford kept the home side at bay.

The match was refereed by Rebecca Welch, who became the first woman to take charge of a Premier League game.

Burnley's Trafford was comfortably the busier of the two goalkeepers throughout, and he made two vital saves in the first half with the scoreline goalless.

The England Under-21 international did well to keep out Harry Wilson's effort at the near post after a jinking run and pushed a deflected Alex Iwobi shot wide of the post.

A scramble in the box shortly before half-time saw also Iwobi shoot at goal but Zeki Amdouni managed to block.

Burnley began the second half on the front foot and their early endeavour was rewarded with a fine opening goal.

Odobert exchanged a neat one-two with Lyle Foster and then opened up his body to spectacularly curl the ball beyond the diving Bernd Leno.

From there Burnley had a spring in their step and Norway midfielder Berge, allowed freedom by a Fulham defence in retreat, fired in a second from the edge of the box.

Fulham piled on the pressure but could not find a way past Trafford, who saved well from Timothy Castagne late on.

The result helped Burnley, bottom at kick-off, leapfrog Sheffield United up to 19th place - four points adrift of safety, as Fulham slipped down to 12th.

Clarets show plenty of grit

This was a much-needed boost for Kompany's side heading into a festive period in which they will face tough games against Liverpool and Aston Villa.

What will have pleased the Belgian most is the character and stomach for the fight from his side to end a five-match run away from home without a win.

Keeper Trafford has epitomised that spirit in recent weeks as one of Burnley's most impressive performers, but in this contest he was backed up by the rest of his team-mates.

The Clarets pressed, chased and harried when not in possession and showed a real willingness to put their bodies on the line.

A ruthlessness in front of goal - scoring from their only two shots on target - ensured they have now picked up five more points away from home than at Turf Moor.

Equally important was Burnley's first clean sheet for 15 Premier League away matches.

They will need more of the same if they are to have any chance of avoiding relegation after winning promotion back to the top flight last season.

Fulham, for their part, were unable to convert their dominance in the first half into goals.

When they fell behind the Cottagers started to look jaded as the exertions of a penalty shootout victory over Everton in the EFL Cup during the week caught up with them.

Fulham have now lost their last three home league games against the Clarets and Marco Silva will look for a quick response at Bournemouth on Boxing Day.

Player of the match

RobertsConnor Roberts

with an average of 7.90

Fulham

  1. Squad number26Player nameJoão Palhinha

  2. Squad number3Player nameBassey

  3. Squad number22Player nameIwobi

  4. Squad number10Player nameCairney

  5. Squad number8Player nameWilson

  6. Squad number17Player nameLeno

  7. Squad number33Player nameRobinson

  8. Squad number21Player nameCastagne

  9. Squad number18Player nameAndreas Pereira

  10. Squad number4Player nameTosin

  11. Squad number19Player nameRodrigo Muniz

  12. Squad number14Player nameDe Cordova-Reid

  13. Squad number12Player nameBallo-Touré

  14. Squad number30Player nameCarlos Vinícius

  15. Squad number6Player nameReed

Burnley

  1. Squad number14Player nameRoberts

  2. Squad number17Player nameFoster

  3. Squad number47Player nameOdobert

  4. Squad number8Player nameBrownhill

  5. Squad number31Player nameTrésor

  6. Squad number16Player nameBerge

  7. Squad number9Player nameRodríguez

  8. Squad number25Player nameAmdouni

  9. Squad number1Player nameTrafford

  10. Squad number2Player nameO'Shea

  11. Squad number3Player nameTaylor

  12. Squad number15Player nameRedmond

  13. Squad number5Player nameBeyer

  14. Squad number22Player nameVitinho

  15. Squad number34Player nameBruun Larsen

  16. Squad number44Player nameDelcroix

Line-ups

Fulham

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 17Leno
  • 21Castagne
  • 4Tosin
  • 3BasseyBooked at 25mins
  • 33RobinsonSubstituted forBallo-Touréat 82'minutes
  • 26João PalhinhaBooked at 58minsSubstituted forReedat 82'minutes
  • 10Cairney
  • 8Wilson
  • 18PereiraSubstituted forDe Cordova-Reidat 65'minutes
  • 22Iwobi
  • 19Muniz CarvalhoSubstituted forCarlos Viníciusat 64'minutes

Substitutes

  • 1Rodák
  • 2Tete
  • 6Reed
  • 12Ballo-Touré
  • 14De Cordova-Reid
  • 28Lukic
  • 30Carlos Vinícius
  • 31Diop
  • 38Harris

Burnley

Formation 4-4-2

  • 1Trafford
  • 22da Silva
  • 2O'Shea
  • 5BeyerBooked at 61mins
  • 3Taylor
  • 34Bruun LarsenSubstituted forTrésorat 45'minutesSubstituted forDelcroixat 89'minutes
  • 16Berge
  • 8Brownhill
  • 47OdobertSubstituted forRobertsat 80'minutes
  • 17FosterSubstituted forRodríguezat 65'minutes
  • 25AmdouniSubstituted forRedmondat 80'minutes

Substitutes

  • 9Rodríguez
  • 14Roberts
  • 15Redmond
  • 19Zaroury
  • 24Cullen
  • 31Trésor
  • 44Delcroix
  • 45Obafemi
  • 49Muric

Referee:Rebecca Welch

Attendance:23,598

Live Text

  1. Match ends, Fulham 0, Burnley 2.

  2. Second Half ends, Fulham 0, Burnley 2.

  3. Timothy Castagne (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  4. Foul by Jay Rodríguez (Burnley).

  5. Foul by Harry Wilson (Fulham).

  6. Jordan Beyer (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  7. Fodé Ballo-Touré (Fulham) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  8. Foul by Vitinho (Burnley).

  9. Substitution, Burnley. Hannes Delcroix replaces Mike Trésor.

  10. Foul by Fodé Ballo-Touré (Fulham).

  11. Josh Brownhill (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  12. Attempt blocked. Alex Iwobi (Fulham) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Bobby De Cordova-Reid.

  13. Calvin Bassey (Fulham) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  14. Foul by Nathan Redmond (Burnley).

  15. Attempt missed. Carlos Vinícius (Fulham) left footed shot from the right side of the box is too high.

  16. Attempt saved. Timothy Castagne (Fulham) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Carlos Vinícius.

  17. Bobby De Cordova-Reid (Fulham) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  18. Foul by Jay Rodríguez (Burnley).

  19. Offside, Burnley. Connor Roberts is caught offside.

  20. Attempt missed. Sander Berge (Burnley) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Mike Trésor.

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