EPL: Burnley 1-0 Stoke City
Ashley Barnes scored a dramatic late winner
Substitute Ashley Barnes grabbed a later winner as Burnley moved up to fourth in the table by beating Stoke City 1-0.
The cold and wet weather at Turf Moor contributed to a dull encounter which seemed certain to end goalless until Barnes’ late intervention.
The visitors started well and Peter Crouch almost reached Xherdan Shaqiri’s excellent cross before Nick Pope did well to keep out Kurt Zouma's volley following Switzerland international Shaqiri’s pinpoint corner.
The Potters produced a vastly improved performance following their insipid display at Wembley on Saturday when they slumped to a 5-1 defeat against Tottenham but they were unable to avoid another loss.
In the 20th minute Mame Biram Diouf headed a presentable chance wide while, at the other end, after Jack Butland had fumbled the ball, Erik Pieters was on hand to alleviate the danger.
As Mark Hughes’ team continued to have the upperhand, Pope kept out Diouf’s shot before saving Ramadan Sobhi’s effort.
When the Clarets finally managed to get forward just before half time Johann Berg Gudmundsson curled an ambitious effort wide but Sean Dyche’s side were decidedly second-best in the first 45 minutes.
Stoke remained on top at the start of the second period and Shaqiri’s shot was saved by Pope but they suffered a blow soon after the hour mark when Kurt Zouma had to be substituted after picking up what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
Burnley stepped up the pace of the game in the closing stages and Scott Arfield and Chris Wood went close to breaking the deadlock before Barnes smashed the ball home to clinch another three points for Burnley.
The visitors started well and Peter Crouch almost reached Xherdan Shaqiri’s excellent cross before Nick Pope did well to keep out Kurt Zouma's volley following Switzerland international Shaqiri’s pinpoint corner.
The Potters produced a vastly improved performance following their insipid display at Wembley on Saturday when they slumped to a 5-1 defeat against Tottenham but they were unable to avoid another loss.
In the 20th minute Mame Biram Diouf headed a presentable chance wide while, at the other end, after Jack Butland had fumbled the ball, Erik Pieters was on hand to alleviate the danger.
As Mark Hughes’ team continued to have the upperhand, Pope kept out Diouf’s shot before saving Ramadan Sobhi’s effort.
When the Clarets finally managed to get forward just before half time Johann Berg Gudmundsson curled an ambitious effort wide but Sean Dyche’s side were decidedly second-best in the first 45 minutes.
Stoke remained on top at the start of the second period and Shaqiri’s shot was saved by Pope but they suffered a blow soon after the hour mark when Kurt Zouma had to be substituted after picking up what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
Burnley stepped up the pace of the game in the closing stages and Scott Arfield and Chris Wood went close to breaking the deadlock before Barnes smashed the ball home to clinch another three points for Burnley.