02 December 2023 , 17:43
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A Clarets celebration at last for Vincent Kompany but his Blades counterpart Paul Heckingbottom appears to be nearing the axe.
It was party time at Turf Moor for Burnley who at last discovered some home comforts – the first Premier League points of the season in front of their own fans at the eighth attempt. They swapped the possibility of becoming the first team in Football League history to lose their opening eight home games with scoring the quickest goal in the Premier League so far this season.
The abject Blades were effectively gone in 15 seconds while combative striker Oli McBurnie didn’t even make it to half-time after being sent off for two assaults on Dara O’Shea’s visage. And the real loser of this basemen battle could be Sheffield United’s already under pressure manager Heckingbottom, each defeat bringing the ghost of Chris Wilder nearer to Bramall Lane.
Stunned at the climax of last week’s damaging defeat here against West Ham, Burnley were in raptures following a start Usain Bolt would have been proud of. It had been an inspirational charge out of the blocks by Kompany’s side and before some fans had even reached the comfort of their seats.
Zeki Amdouni fed the ball out to Charlie Taylor who swept in a wonderful cross for Jay Rodriguez to shrug off Auston Trusty and send a glancing header past a stunned Wes Foderingham.
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There were just 15 seconds on the clock. It appears Rodriguez, who struck his first Premier League goal of the season against the Hammers seven days ago, has previous for lightning starts having scored in similar circumstances for Southampton against Chelsea 10 years ago.
There were only muted celebrations from the Burnley bench. Who could blame them following last week’s cruel finale. But it was a different story in the 28th minute as a long punt up field by Dara O’Shea saw Jacob Bruun Larsen with a free run at goal with the Blades defence nowhere.
Sheffield United have picked up just five points so far this season (Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)The Dane, recalled to the side, maintained his composure to steer past the exposed Foderingham. The Blades now 2-0 down and looking dispirited found themselves with just 10 men as they made their way to the dressing room at the break.
Combative striker McBurnie had already arrived there ahead of his team-mates after receiving two yellow cards for leaving first an elbow and then a flailing fist in O’Shea’s face. The normally placid Kompany had received a rare yellow card for disputing a booking for O’Shea following the defender’s own tangle with McBurnie.
He needn’t have worried as Burnley ended with a flourish, Amdouni capitalising on a Jordan Beyer headed pass, Luca Koleosho finishing smartly after being set up by Amdouni and Josh Brownhill getting in on the act against the busted Blades.