Burnley battled back from 2-0 down to secure a point against Fulham at Turf Moor on Saturday, as Chelsea loanee David Datro Fofana scored twice in the second half to make the difference in just his second appearance for the club.
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The point will help Burnley (13 points - 19th place), but only a little bit, in their fight against relegation with both Everton (19 points - 18th) and Luton Town (20 points - 16th) also picking up a point on Saturday. The gap to safety is now seven points, with Nottingham Forest still to play on Sunday.
Burnley made a fast start as they had the game’s first three attempts on goal, including two from inside 12 yards, and then it all fell to pieces rather quickly. Andreas Pereira served a corner kick to the near post in the 17th minute and Joao Palhinha was not only quickest to it, leaving him with a wide open header that James Trafford had no chance at saving.
Four minutes later, Trafford put himself in a world of trouble when he came off his line but didn’t fully commit to coming out for the ball. As he stood in no man’s land, Muniz lifted the ball over top of him and found the back of the net for 2-0. USMNT left back Antonee Robinson played the first-time bouncing ball over Burnley’s defense and Muniz did the rest.
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Fulham looked like cruising to a comfortable victory and all three points, but Burnley continued to press, pass and cause problems going forward as the second half wore on. The Clarets pulled back to 2-1 in the 71st minute, as Fofana raced onto Lorenz Assignon’s lofted ball over the top and headed past Bernd Leno.
Still, 2-1 looked like it would hold for the Cottagers, until Fofana popped up in the right place at the right time once again, in the 91st minute. Wilson Odobert played a low cross into the six-yard box and Fofana got wrong side of USMNT center back Tim Ream to slide in and bundle the ball over the goal line.
A long, uphill battle remains for Burnley to stay up
All credit to Burnley and head coach Vincent Kompany for staying staunchly committed to their philosophy and style of football, as it served them well on Saturday. Unfortunately for the Clarets, that hasn’t been the case on nearly enough occasions this season. They managed to avoid defeat for just the seventh time on Saturday (their 16 defeats are matched only by last-place Sheffield United). With Liverpool and Arsenal next on the fixture list, things won’t get any easier in the short term.
What’s next?
Burnley will try to make it two positive results in a row next weekend, when they head to Anfield to take on leaders Liverpool on Saturday (10 am ET). Fulham will be away to three-time defending champions Manchester City earlier in the day (7:30 am ET).
Player ratings - Burnley vs Fulham
Burnley vs Fulham, final score: 2-2
Goalscorers: Joao Palhinha (17'), Rodrigo Muniz (21'), David Datro Fofana (71', 90'+1)
17th minute - GOAL - Joao Palhinha turns in a corner kick at the near post for 1-0
21st minute - GOAL - Antonee Robinson finds Rodrigo Muniz for a quick-fire double
How to watch Burnley vs Fulham live, stream link, start time, odds
Kickoff: 10am ET Saturday
Odds: Burnley (+188) vs Fulham (+140) | Draw (+240)
TV Channel: Peacock
Stream: Premier League on Peacock
Burnley starting lineup
Trafford — Assignon, O’Shea, Ekdal, Vitinho — Ramsey, Berge, Brownhill, Odobert — Foster, Amdouni
Fulham starting lineup
Leno — Castagne, Adarabioyo, Ream, Robinson — Palhinha, Reed — De Cordova-Reid, Pereira, Willian, Muniz
Burnley injury news, injury update
OUT: Nathan Redmond (hamstring), Luca Koleosho (knee), Jordan Beyer (thigh), Charlie Taylor (shoulder), Hannes Delcroix (illness)
Fulham injury news, team update
OUT: Raul Jimenez (thigh), Issa Diop (hamstring), Adama Traore (hamstring), Calvin Bassey (international duty), Alex Iwobi (international duty), Fode Ballo-Toure (international duty), Harry Wilson (undisclosed)
