Albion got a bit of good fortune as they came from behind to draw 1-1 at Turf Moor on Saturday.
When the sides drew 1-1 at the Amex earlier in the season they had been frustrated by a brilliant display from Burnley keeper James Trafford. This time they benefitted from a terrible mistake by Trafford’s replacement Arijanet Muric, whose 79th-minute own goal made it 1-1 three minutes after Josh Brownhill’s fortuitous opener. There was no lack of effort from both teams and Albion might have won it late on but had to settle for their 11th draw of the Premier League season.
Two changes saw Joel Veltman and Joao Pedro come into the XI with nine players not available to Roberto De Zerbi because of injury. That became ten in the 13th minute when Pervis Estupinan limped off.
Burnley were lively in the early stages and Jacob Larsen missed a great chance in the 18th minute. Wilson Odobert, who scored at the Amex in December, put an inviting ball in from the right but three yards out Larsen inexplicably steered it wide.
Albion started to get on top in midfield, with Jakub Moder impressive. Simon Adingra twice tested Muric and Joao steered a header at full stretch a couple of yards wide.
But Albion’s best chance in the first half came from a set piece after Danny Welbeck was fouled 20 yards out. Moder lifted the free kick right-footed over the wall and Muric had to dive at full stretch to his right to keep it out.
Albion started to force the pace in the second half and had two good chances. Adingra burst at pace into the box and checked inside but his shot was blocked Lorenz Assignon. Joao seemed certain to score in the 57th minute when he broke into space in the box, but he tried to create a better angle and his effort was blocked to Gross on the edge of the box whose low drive deflected just wide.
Bart Verbruggen had been largely unemployed in the second half and had no chance when the deadlock was broken with 16 minutes to go. Carlos Baleba left his back pass fractionally short and when Verbruggen came out his clearance rebounded off Brownhill and into the empty net. Lewis Dunk put a consoling arm around his teammate but as the rain swept over Turf Moor Albion stirred themselves.
De Zerbi made a triple change and within three minutes it was 1-1 in the most comical fashion imaginable when Sander Berge guided a back pass towards Muric with no blue and white shirt within 30 yards of the ball and the Clarets’ keeper allowed it to roll under his boot and into the empty net.
Mark O’Mahony looked lively when he came on to make his Premier League debut but a point, which keeps Albion tenth, it was.
Albion: Verbruggen, Veltman, Dunk, van Hecke, Estupinan, Baleba, Gross, Adingra (Lallana 76), Moder (Fati 76), Welbeck (Buonanotte 76), Joao (O’Mahony 89).
Subs not used: Steele, Barco, Offiah, Peupion.
Referee: Simon Hooper
Match report in association with SnickersUK.com