CHAMPIONSHIP Plymouth Argyle 0 Burnley 5
- Details
- Created on Wednesday, 22 January 2025 23:26
- Last Updated on Thursday, 23 January 2025 08:47
- Published on Wednesday, 22 January 2025 23:26
- Written by ROSS REID at Home Park
Argyle – under new management with Austrian Miron Muslic replacing Wayne Rooney as head coach less than two weeks ago – are five points adrift at the foot of the table, without a win in 14 league games. Burnley are unbeaten in 15.
Lyle Foster had the first Clarets attempt, heading tamely towards goal from a Connor Roberts sixth minute cross. The ball was safely gathered in by home keeper Dan Grimshaw.
There was no warning of what was to come as the Clarets took the lead in their next meaningful attack, down the right, with skipper Josh Brownhill’s waist-high cross swept in on the volley by striker Zian Flemming in the 11th minute.
Grimshaw had to save well at his near post, with his feet, to keep out Josh Laurent’s shot on the run as he easily broke through the Argyle backline on 13 minutes.
The Argyle keeper had to have his wits about him to clear a Burnley free kick as it was headed goalwards by Maxime Esteve in the 15th minute – causing a goalmouth scramble.
Grimshaw was equal to Flemming’s 27th minute right foot shot from just outside the box as the striker went in search of a second goal.
A brilliant chest down and half volley from Laurent, from Roberts deep ball to the edge of the Argyle penalty area, was turned around the post by Grimshaw on the half hour as Burnley poured forward.
Flemming soon had his second, following a quickly taken free kick by Brownhill just inside the Argyle half.
Jaidon Anthony first timed the ball across goal from the byline and there was Flemming on the edge of the six-yard box to crash the ball home on 31 minutes.
Argyle’s woes continued three minutes later as Anthony again found space down the right and teed up Roberts, his cutback found Laurent who brilliantly first-timed the ball into the top corner giving Grimshaw no chance from 15 yards.
Laurent got his second and the Clarets’ fourth, heading home on the line as another Anthony cross was knocked back across the face of goal by Foster to the far post.
Burnley went 5-0 up in first half stoppage time as skipper Adam Randell’s back pass was pounced on by Lyle Foster, Grimshaw did his best to retrieve the situation but the ball fell to Josh Cullen who passed it into the net.
Substitute Mustapha Bundu had Argyle’s first shot on target in the 46th minute, firing high and wide from an acute angle on the right.
Burnley keeper James Trafford was forced into his first save, punching away Randell’s top in-swinging free kick in the 64th minute.
As well as conceding five, Argyle remain five points adrift at the foot of the table with an away game at fourth placed Sunderland looming on Saturday.
MUSLIC REACTION
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