Burnley 2-2 West Bromwich Albion (original) (raw)
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
Sam Vokes' double took him to eight Premier League goals for the season
Sam Vokes scored a late equaliser to edge Burnley closer to Premier League survival and deny West Brom their first win since 18 March.
Vokes headed in four minutes from time, having earlier taken advantage of great work from Ashley Barnes to put the hosts ahead at Turf Moor.
Salomon Rondon had levelled with a smart turn and finish, before Craig Dawson thought he had won it for the visitors with a diving header.
But Vokes' header looped over Ben Foster to earn Burnley a point and keep the Clarets on course to successfully negotiating a top-flight season for the first time since 1974-75.
Burnley almost safe
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Vokes had the only shot on target in the first half
This is already Burnley's best Premier League season, with 40 points and 11 wins.
Boss Sean Dyche will be taking nothing for granted, but his side have now reached the 'magic' 40-point mark with two games to play, putting them eight points above the relegation zone in 14th.
The Clarets had the better of a drab first half, with Vokes managing the only shot on target for either side when he forced Baggies goalkeeper Foster into a low save from George Boyd's deflected cross.
The game came to life after the break, however, when Barnes did superbly to find his feet after being hauled down in the area before teeing up striker partner Vokes to poke home.
The Clarets then showed plenty of character to salvage a point after going behind as Vokes' flick-on beat Foster, whose rash decision to come for a hopeful ball forward left him helpless in the box.
Baggies finally score
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
Craig Dawson was also on target the last time West Brom scored in a Premier League game, against Arsenal on 18 March
West Brom fans must have been wondering if their side would ever score again in the Premier League as their run without a goal ticked beyond the eight-and-a-half-hour mark.
But the Baggies suddenly sprung into life at Turf Moor, with Rondon's well-taken equaliser being the first time they have found the net since a 3-1 win over Arsenal in March.
Dawson had headed against the bar moments earlier, before James McClean's cross found Rondon and the Venezuela striker used his strength to hold off two Burnley defenders, turn and fire past Tom Heaton.
Dawson, on his 27th birthday, then dived in to nod the visitors in front and show that West Brom's biggest threat is from set pieces - six of their last eight league goals have come from defenders.
Despite their winless run reaching six games, a point keeps the Baggies a creditable eighth in the table.
Man of the match - Sam Vokes (Burnley)
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
Vokes scored from two of this three efforts on target, and was unlucky not to open the scoring in the first half with his other. His physical presence caused problems for a normally robust West Brom defence
'We are a long way down the road'
Media caption,
Dyche delighted as Burnley reach 40 points
Burnley manager Sean Dyche: "I'd prefer not to say we are safe until it is 100%, but we are a long way down the road.
"The team and myself deserve a lot of credit.
"We have had a few knocks this season but we believe in what we are about. There are teams with more talent but we are a strong unit."
Media caption,
Pulis pleased with draw despite Burnley pressure
West Brom boss Tony Pulis: "You have to defend well here, Burnley put you under real pressure.
"Salomon Rondon has been our only striker available in the past few weeks, he's been playing by himself and he works hard. Today he got his reward.
"People who have been giving us stick don't understand. We will make a massive profit at the end of the season, this club is run very professionally. We have to survive and we do that very well."
Stats - You wait 530 minutes for a goal...
- Burnley have won just one of their past five home Premier League games (D2 L2) after winning each of the five before that.
- West Brom ended a goal drought of 530 minutes in the Premier League.
- Sam Vokes has netted three goals in his past three Premier League games, as many as in his previous 24 in the competition.
- Salomon Rondon netted his first Premier League goal in 19 games, last scoring a hat-trick against Swansea on Boxing Day.
- The Baggies scored with their first shot on target in the game [on 66 minutes].
- A league-high 15 of West Brom's goals in the Premier League this season have come from corners (37%).
What's next?
Burnley travel to Bournemouth next Saturday before finishing the season at home to West Ham, while West Brom host Chelsea on Friday and travel to Manchester City the following Tuesday.
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