West Brom fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 in an entertaining relegation scrap with Burnley at Turf Moor.
Burnley flew out of the blocks and, moments after Ben Foster brilliantly tipped Scott Arfield’s shot on to the bar, the Clarets took a deserved lead through Ashley Barnes, who nodded in from close range after Danny Ings picked him out with a superb looping cross.
Ings then found the net himself, sending a thumping header beyond Ben Foster from George Boyd’s cross, doubling Burnley’s lead.
With West Brom, who were captained by debutant Darren Fletcher, seemingly dead and buried before the break, Chris Brunt bundled in from close range to give the Baggies a lifeline on the stroke of half time.
Tony Pulis left Saido Berahino on the bench but was forced to bring him on after 16 minutes due to Victor Anichebe’s injury – and then threw on Ideye Brown after the break.
And halfway through the second half, Ideye found the net, heading in unmarked from a corner after Burnley again failed to deal with a set piece.
Both sides created chances to win it and Burnley keeper Tom Heaton made a superb late save to deny Berahino from point blank range
KEY MOMENTS
8′ OFF THE BAR! Armfield meets Trippier’s low cross from the right with a sweet shot, but Foster brilliantly tips it onto the bar! Burnley so very close there.
11′ GOAL! Burnley 1-0 West Brom! Good work by Ings, whose determination pays off as he loops a cross to Barnes, who nods in from close range.
32′ GOAL! Burnley 2-0 West Brom! Ings scores for Burnley! Boyd races clear down the left and crosses for the in-form Ings, whose header is perfectly placed. 2-0!
45’+1 GOAL! Burnley 2-1 West Brom! Brunt scores for West Brom! The inswinging corner from the left finds Brunt at the far post, who bundles the ball in from close range. 2-1 and West Brom are back in this…
67′ GOAL! Burnley 2-2 West Brom! Ideye scores for West Brom! The unmarked substitute climbs high to head in from the corner. It’s 2-2…
88′ GREAT SAVE! Heaton makes a brilliant save to deny Berahino the winner from point blank range!
KEY STATS
Danny Ings has now scored in four of his last five Premier League appearances for Burnley.
West Bromwich Albion have now conceded 10 goals in the opening 15 minutes of Premier League matches this season; a league-high number.
This is the first Premier League game to see four headed goals since Arsenal vs Fulham in November 2012.
TALKING POINT – When will Burnley learn to defend set pieces?
Burnley fans will also talk about lost leads having cost them points this season, but the problem is even more basic than that. West Brom scored from two set pieces and Burnley struggled to defend corners and free-kicks all game. Sean Dyche needs to iron out these elementary errors to give his side a chance of moving clear of the bottom three.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Danny Ings (Burnley) – There were a few contenders, with Kieran Trippier and Joleon Lescott both putting in superb displays, but Ings takes it for his excellent all-round contribution. A goal, an assist and a constant menace for the home side.
PLAYER RATINGS
BURNLEY: Heaton 8; Trippier 8, Shackell 7, Keane 7, Mee 6; Boyd 7, Jones 6, Marney 7, Arfield 7; Barnes 7, Ings 8. SUBS: Kightly 7
WEST BROM: Foster 8; Baird 7, Dawson 7, McAuley 7, Lescott 8; McManaman 7, Fletcher 7, Yacob 6, Brunt 7; Sessegnon 6; Anichebe 5. SUBS: Morrison 6, Ideye 7, Berahino 7.
