Dara O’Shea delivered a late equalizer for 10-man Burnley, earning a crucial point in their Premier League encounter away at Chelsea.
O’Shea found the net with a header from Josh Cullen’s corner, just three minutes after Cole Palmer had regained the lead for Chelsea with a well-placed finish past goalkeeper Arijanet Muric.
Palmer initially put Chelsea ahead in the first half with a cheeky Panenka penalty, awarded after Lorenz Assignon received his second yellow card for a foul on Mykhailo Mudryk in the box.
Burnley managed to draw level shortly after halftime with Cullen’s spectacular volley finding the back of the net, but late goals from both sides meant the match ended in a draw.
Vincent Kompany’s Burnley are currently positioned 19th in the table, trailing 17th-placed Nottingham Forest by four points, while Chelsea maintains their 11th position.
Assignon received both of his yellow cards within the opening 40 minutes, both for fouls on Mudryk. Additionally, Kompany was subsequently dismissed for his reaction to the sending off.
The first half saw plenty of action, with Jacob Bruun Larsen narrowly missing a shot for Burnley and Enzo Fernandez striking the bar with his effort. Meanwhile, England internationals Palmer and Conor Gallagher combined effectively in a fluid Chelsea move, although Palmer’s shot missed the target.
Djordje Petrovic, Chelsea’s goalkeeper, was called into action to palm away Wilson Odobert’s strike from the edge of the box as Burnley attempted to get on the scoresheet.
Burnley show fighting spirit despite red cards
Burnley showcased a significantly improved performance, effectively frustrating Chelsea and fully deserving the point they earned.
Assignon becomes the sixth Burnley player to receive a Premier League red card this season, marking them as the team with the most dismissals in the competition.
Despite evident frustration in the first half, Kompany’s team displayed resilience in the second half, swiftly equalizing through Cullen’s exceptional finish.
O’Shea’s late header ensured a crucial point against formidable opponents, and Jay Rodriguez had a late opportunity to clinch victory, only for his header to strike the crossbar, leaving him unable to convert the rebound.
Their determined display will undoubtedly instill confidence as they prepare to face Wolves at home on Tuesday (19:45 BST).
Palmer shines again as Blues draw
Prior to the match, Blues manager Mauricio Pochettino remarked, “If you analyze all the data, we should be in fourth position in the table.”
However, another inconsistent performance highlighted precisely why they remain in the lower half of the table.
Despite having numerous opportunities, with 33 shots – their highest in a Premier League game in over a decade, the Blues failed to capitalize fully.
They conceded just three minutes after taking the lead, dropping more points against a struggling side following their draw against Brentford earlier in the month.
Mudryk, who secured Ukraine’s Euro 2024 qualification with a winning goal this week, replaced Raheem Sterling in the starting lineup and played a crucial role in Chelsea’s attacking moves in the first half.
Although Axel Disasi put the ball in the net from Mudryk’s delivery, it was disallowed for offside following a lengthy Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review.
Mudryk then won a penalty as Assignon struggled to keep up with his pace.
One consistent positive for Pochettino is Palmer, who remained composed to convert from the spot and showcased a fine finish from Sterling’s clever backheel.
Discontent was evident among the supporters at the final whistle, and there will be significant anticipation for an improved home performance when Manchester United visit on Thursday (20:15 BST).