Burnley Under-23s 3-2 Sunderland Under-23s
Sunderland Under-23s narrowly lost out to Burnley Under-23s in their Premier League 2 opener earlier today.
Senior trio Remi Matthews, Conor McLaughlin and Arbenit Xhemajli all started and having featured for Phil Parkinson’s side during their 8-1 EFL Trophy win, Brandon Taylor, Jack Diamond, Dan Neil and Morgan Feeney all made the XI.
The Clarets took the lead early via an own goal and Barnes doubled their advantage soon after, as the first-team player continued his recovery from injury.
With a quarter of an hour played, Mitchell Curry pulled one back for Elliott Dickman’s side on his first appearance since signing last week.
The 21-year-old latched onto a pass from Stephen Wearne and applied a calm finish.
But Burnley had their two-goal cushion back moments after the interval when Barnes grabbed his second from the penalty spot.
Sunderland did not give up hope though, and the lively Jack Diamond won and scored a penalty of his own on the hour mark to set up a grandstand finish.
The former Harrogate loanee almost grabbed the equaliser with 20 minutes remaining, while Curry also spurned a great opportunity when he struck the woodwork soon after.
Despite the Lads’ late push for an equaliser, the Clarets held on to take all three points.
Next up for Elliott Dickman’s side is Leeds United at the Academy of Light on Monday 28 September.
Burnley: Jensen; Elva-Fountaine, Rooney, Trialist (Barrett 25), Rain; Tucker, Rickard, Woods, Richardson; Barnes (Harker 61), Thompson (Conn-Clarke 61).
Substitutes: Richter, Diallo
Sunderland: Matthews, McLaughlin, Dunne, Feeney (Beaumont 6), Taylor, Xhemajli, Diamond, Hackett, Curry (Harris 80), Neil, Wearne.
Substitutes: Patterson, Wilding
Referee: David Richardson