Wilson Odobert’s remarkable goal lifted Burnley from the bottom of the table, securing their third Premier League victory of the season against Fulham.
Two minutes into the second half, French winger Odobert stylishly curled the ball into the net to give the Clarets the lead.
Sander Berge then doubled Vincent Kompany’s side’s advantage with a precise low strike into the corner of the net.
Despite missed opportunities, Fulham found themselves unable to break through as Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford made crucial saves.
The historic match was officiated by Rebecca Welch, marking her as the first woman to take charge of a Premier League game.
“It feels like something we have deserved for a while,” Burnley boss Kompany told BBC’s Match of the Day.
“We keep going and today we kept going. A good team performance and a good result.”
Trafford of Burnley was notably the more active of the two goalkeepers, making two crucial saves in the first half when the scoreline was still level. The England Under-21s goalkeeper successfully denied Harry Wilson’s near-post attempt following a skillful run and pushed a deflected shot from Alex Iwobi wide of the post.
A chaotic sequence in the box just before halftime also saw Iwobi’s shot blocked by Zeki Amdouni. Burnley initiated the second half with determination, and their early efforts were rewarded with a superb opening goal. Odobert executed a slick one-two with Lyle Foster and skillfully curled the ball beyond the diving Bernd Leno.
Buoyed by the lead, Burnley continued with momentum, and midfielder Berge, benefiting from a retreating Fulham defense, netted a second with a well-placed shot 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 victory served as a much-needed morale boost for Kompany’s team as they enter a challenging festive period with upcoming matches against Liverpool and Aston Villa. What likely pleased the Belgian manager the most was the resilience and determination displayed by his team, ending a five-match winless streak away from home.
Goalkeeper Trafford has been a standout performer in recent weeks, embodying the team’s fighting spirit. In this match, he received solid support from his teammates. The Clarets demonstrated a relentless approach, pressing, chasing, and showing a willingness to sacrifice their bodies when not in possession.
Their efficiency in front of goal, converting both of their shots on target, has propelled them to gather five more points away from home than at Turf Moor. Additionally, securing Burnley’s first clean sheet in 15 Premier League away matches was equally significant.
Maintaining this level of performance will be crucial for Burnley as they strive to avoid relegation after earning promotion back to the top flight last season.
“The whole team really values wins and clean sheets. We have never really been short of confidence as a team,” Trafford said.
“We believe in the whole process. The performances have been there and it was only a matter of time before the results came.”
Fulham, on the other hand, couldn’t translate their first-half dominance into goals.
As they trailed, the team appeared fatigued, likely impacted by the efforts put forth in a penalty shootout victory over Everton in the EFL Cup earlier in the week.
Having now suffered three consecutive home league losses against the Clarets, Marco Silva is seeking a prompt turnaround as Fulham faces Bournemouth on December 26th.
“I think after we conceded the first goal we lost some principles. Clearly we deserved more from the game,” Silva said.
“They had two shots on target but the reality is they were more ruthless. This can happen in the Premier League.”