Chelsea 2-2 Burnley 
by Layth Yousif

A SMATTERING of boos rang out among the home support at the final whistle after the Clarets’ 10 players earned a hard-fought point in their battle to avoid relegation.

Two goals from the lively Cole Palmer were not enough to ensure victory for the home side, as Burnley captain Josh Cullen first equalised, prior to a late leveller from Dara O’Shea to make it 2-2 on 81 minutes — much to the annoyance of Chelsea fans who made their feeling clear immediately after the match.

While you could understand the Blues’ frustration in as much as Mauricio Pochettino’s side — despite more than £1 billion being spent to assemble it — are simply not a patch on any of their great sides of the last 20 years, and with the quality in their squad should be dispatching opponents of Burnley’s calibre. 

Yet, kudos had to go to the visitors, who played the entire second half with only 10 players — and without their manager Vincent Kompany — who was also sent off following a pivotal incident moments before half-time.

Just as the teams were set to enter the interval goalless, high drama erupted.

Chelsea were awarded a penalty for a foul on Mykhailo Mudryk by Lorenz Assignon. The Clarets’ No 20 was subsequently given the red card by referee Darren England, leaving Burnley boss Vincent Kompany incandescent.

To make matters worse for the Turf Moor outfit, official England then sent Kompany off for his furious reaction to the initial red card.

Amid the maelstrom, the impressive Palmer kept his head as he geared up to take the spot-kick.

Palmer, who Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate curiously refrained from playing over the course of the two international friendlies against Brazil and Belgium at Wembley last week, certainly had a point to prove.

Underlined when Chelsea’s number 20, as cool as you like, audaciously chipped the ball into the net straight down the middle past Clarets’ giant keeper Arijanet Muric to give the Blues a 1-0 lead on 44 minutes.

Yet, Clarets’ Cullen fired home an equaliser two minutes after the interval, with an excellent effort on the half volley for 10-man Burnley, as the travelling fans celebrated.

Shortly afterwards, No 17 Lyle Foster nearly put the visitors ahead but for Petrovic’s block.

As the game opened up, Muric saved from Jackson as both sides hunted a winner. 

Muric then kept out Noni Madueke’s effort before the misfiring Jackson aimed another chance wide. 

In an absorbing match, Muric denied Palmer’s low shot, then again moments later after a driving run into the box.

Something had to give, and it did. Palmer fired home past Muric to give the home side the lead, with 12 minutes remaining.

However, only three minutes later Burnley showed their character to equalise for the second time.

Burnley right-back O’Shea met captain Cullen’s corner to head emphatically at Blues keeper Petrovic, who failed to prevent the ball going through his hands and, to his horror, into the net, as the Clarets’ 10 men and their fans deservedly celebrated the equaliser to make it 2-2.

In a grandstand finish, Clarets’ No 9 Jay Rodriquez thudded the ball against the bar with his follow-up effort flying narrowly wide, in what would have been one of the results of the season if either of his efforts had gone in.

As it was, Burnley could be extremely proud of their refusal to wilt as their battle to avoid the drop continues.

For Chelsea, and the increasingly beleaguered Pochettino, you do rather wonder if the former Spurs boss will still be managing in SW6 next season, given their relentlessly mediocre form for such a moneyed club — capped by another two points dropped against a spirited, if limited Burnley, who will care not a jot about bruised reputations.