Burnley vs Sheffield United. Premier League.
Turf MoorAttendance20,891.
Match report and free highlights as Burnley secure their first home win in the Premier League this season; Jay Rodriguez's header after 15 seconds and goals from Jacob Bruun Larsen, Zeki Amdouni, Luca Koleosho and Josh Brownhill seal fine win; Oli McBurnie sent off for Sheffield United
Saturday 2 December 2023 18:34, UK
Burnley won for the first time at home in the Premier League this season as they thrashed relegation rivals Sheffield United 5-0 at Turf Moor.
At risk of becoming the first side in English Football League history to lose their opening eight home games, that prospect never looked likely when Jay Rodriguez's header after just 15 seconds gave the Clarets the lead.
It was the start of a memorable afternoon for Vincent Kompany's team, who doubled their advantage through Jacob Bruun Larsen (28) before Sheffield United were reduced to 10 players in first-half stoppage time when Oli McBurnie received a second yellow card for flinging an elbow at Dara O'Shea - an almost identical challenge to the one that saw him originally cautioned.
Two goals and a man down, the Blades never looked like finding a way back into the game and they collapsed after the break as Zeki Amdouni (73), Luca Koleosho (75) and Josh Brownhill (80) scored to inflict a damaging defeat on Paul Heckingbottom's side.
The result lifts Burnley off the bottom of the table and up to 18th, two points above Sheffield United who drop two places to 19th and remain without an away win this term.
Speaking about his future after the match, Heckingbottom told Sky Sports: "There's been talk and speculation on that since the start of September. I'm the wrong man to ask.
"I'll just continue doing what we're doing with the resources we've got. I can always hold my head up high. I always give my best. That won't change."
Burnley scored the opener with a move straight from kick-off. James Trafford punted the ball forward, Amdouni shifted it to the left and Charlie Taylor whipped in a first-time cross for Rodriguez to head home.
It was the quickest Premier League goal of the season, and made Rodriguez the first player in the league's history to score in the opening 15 seconds of two separate games, 10 years and one day after he pounced for Southampton against Chelsea.
Burnley doubled their lead when Bruun Larsen, making his first Premier League start, got in front of Luke Thomas to reach O'Shea's long ball before cutting in off the right and passing the ball under the despairing dive of Wes Foderingham.
United's frustrations soon surfaced. McBurnie, back in the starting 11 after scoring the late consolation in last week's home defeat by Bournemouth, was lucky to see only yellow for catching O'Shea with an elbow in the 36th minute, leaving Kompany livid on the sideline.
Moments later O'Shea caught McBurnie, who delivered enough theatrics to ensure his counterpart also saw yellow, and Kompany joined both players in the book for his remonstrations.
More was to follow and when McBurnie caught O'Shea with an arm once again in first-half stoppage time, earning a second yellow card and a head-start on the trudge to the dressing room.
Heckingbottom, already forced into one substitution due to an injury for George Baldock, made a triple change at the break as Benie Traore, James McAtee and William Osula came on for Thomas, John Fleck and Cameron Archer.
It meant only half United's outfield players that started the match were still on for the start of the second half. But it did little to change United's fortunes and the floodgates opened after the 73rd minute.
Burnley's third came when United failed to clear a corner and Jordan Beyer headed the ball down for Amdouni to spring between Jack Robinson and Anel Ahmedhodzic before playing the ball beyond Foderingham.
Moments later Koleosho cracked a shot off the crossbar when Foderingham could only parry Amdouni's shot, but the teenager was soon celebrating his first Premier League goal as he shrugged off a challenge and beat the goalkeeper at his near post. Brownhill rifled in the fifth from the edge of the box with 10 minutes to go.
It was Burnley's biggest ever Premier League win and after encouraging displays against Crystal Palace and West Ham, three points offer tangible reward for improving performances.
For Sheffield United it was another chastening day, the pain of defeat increased by the loss of McBurnie to a needless suspension. There was no sign of the sort of quality that will be needed to get them out of trouble and the pressure is undoubtedly building on Heckingbottom.
Burnley manager Vincent Kompany told Sky Sports: "It felt like our performances have been good for a while now. After the disappointment comes a moment of reward.
"I have to congratulate the lads. I'm happy for them.
"They were just raring to go. We were extremely hurt by what happened last week. The lads, I could barely contain them, they were ready to go and do something at Turf Moor.
"The lads deserve all the credit they can get. It's not been a one-off. We've had performances like that this season."
Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom told Sky Sports: "We plan and pick a team who can handle and impose ourselves on the game. We wanted to put a marker down in our duels.
"We dangled two legs and we're down within 30 seconds. The second goal was not too much better. Then we lost a man with two yellow cards. We made it easier for Burnley than they expected.
"We can't be feeling sorry for ourselves. It looked like one or two were towards the end."
Burnley have back-to-back away games to negotiate over the next week. First, they travel to Wolves on Tuesday (kick-off 7.30pm) before heading to Brighton on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).
Sheffield United welcome Liverpool to Bramall Lane on Wednesday (kick-off 7.30pm). The Blades then host Brentford on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).
