Report and free match highlights as Burnley caretaker manager Mike Jackson suffers first defeat to leave Clarets two points above the relegation zone
Saturday 7 May 2022 20:31, UK
Danny Ings, Emiliano Buendia and Ollie Watkins brought Burnley's recent revival to a sudden end at Turf Moor as Aston Villa moved into the top half with a comfortable 3-1 victory.
Caretaker manager Mike Jackson suffered his first defeat after winning three and drawing one of his first four games in charge which leaves the Clarets two points above the relegation zone.
Ings struck against his former club after just seven minutes with a cool finish before Buendia went from provider to scorer as his strike beat goalkeeper Nick Pope via a deflection.
With England manager Gareth Southgate watching on, Watkins then stooped to head home John McGinn's excellent cross to wrap up the points shortly after half-time.
Burnley, who saw their three-game winning run end, were given something to cheer when Maxwel Cornet scored a late consolation goal by rounding Emiliano Martinez.
Villa led after just seven minutes when Buendia picked the ball up on the half-turn in midfield and slipped Ings through on goal with a nicely-weighted pass. The 29-year-old, who played 122 times for Burnley, kept his cool to fire into the bottom corner with his left foot before refusing to celebrate against his former club.
Burnley recovered to have the better of the first half, seeing Wout Weghorst shoot wide and then head off-target from two good chances.
The hosts were made to pay as Buendia grabbed the second goal himself, side-footing home Lucas Digne's pull-back via a deflection off James Tarkowski which deceived Pope.
Burnley still saw Dwight McNeil and Nathan Collins waste opportunities before the break as Villa showed them how to finish. McGinn's wonderful cross from the left was perfect for Watkins to head in just seven minutes into the second half.
Villa cruised to victory from there with Burnley mustering only three shots at goal during the half compared to the visitors' seven. Matty Cash was denied by Pope from making it four as he pushed behind the right-back's powerful drive before substitute Cornet netted a late goal to at least give the home fans who hadn't left early something to cheer.
Emiliano Buendia repaid the faith of manager Steven Gerrard with a fine display on only his second start in 10 matches. The Argentine set up Danny Ings' opener with a perfect pass before keeping his composure to double Villa's lead.
"I thought he was fantastic, really creative," said Gerrard on Buendia's performance. "His assist for the first goal was outstanding, exactly what we've been working on. Then he gets himself in the box where we want him to tap home the second."
Burnley caretaker manager Mike Jackson: "First-half we gave away some sloppy goals and got punished for a couple of errors. We had some good moments ourselves, quite a bit of the ball but we just couldn't find those moments to finish them off.
"Then second half, you lose one early and it takes the wind out of you. We had as many moments as Villa in the first half but didn't take them.
"It's a big plus to get Maxy (Cornet) back and Eric (Pieters). That's good for us because we've lost a few bodies which hasn't helped. We're going into these last two weeks with three games and everything is there for us in what we need to do."
Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard: "The points are the most important thing. We showed we can be a really strong team away from home. I thought we were better in every department with all due respect.
"When our moments came in the game to show our quality, we showed it. We were ruthless in front of goal, the front three won us the game but across the board, everyone stood up today.
"Burnley had taken 10 points from 12, they're in a right good place. They've had the manager bounce. We've gone away and put in similar types of performances at difficult places like Crystal Palace, Everton, Brighton so I knew if we got the game plan right and it was executed, I believed the boys could deliver a game. Besides the last five minutes of the first-half and the last couple of minutes, that's probably the best we've played."
May 15 - Tottenham (a)
May 19 - Aston Villa (a)
May 22 - Newcastle (h)
Burnley play two away games in succession, with the first being a trip to Tottenham next Sunday lunchtime. They then face Steven Gerrard's Villa again in a return fixture on May 19. The Clarets end the season with a home game against Newcastle at Turf Moor, three days later.
Villa and Gerrard in particular face a very familiar next task as they host title-chasing Liverpool this Tuesday, which is live on Sky Sports Premier League; kick-off at 8pm. They then host Crystal Palace next weekend before that return clash with Burnley. Gerrard could then deny Manchester City a second straight Premier League title when they go to the Etihad Stadium on the final day of the season.
