Ugo Raghouber nets first Burnley goal in Middlesbrough draw

Burnley came from behind to register a point against Middlesbrough in a true game of two halves at Turf Moor.

Nicky Hayen’s side were fortunate to only trail by the one goal following a really poor first half against last season’s play-off finalists.

While Boro impressed with their structure and tactical discipline, Burnley - who switched to a back five - resembled a team of strangers.

But the hosts improved after the restart and got themselves back on level terms courtesy of Ugo Raghouber’s first Burnley goal.

While Burnley’s long wait for a win, which stretches back to February, continues, supporters will be encouraged by the team’s second half display.

There is clearly more work still be done on the training pitch though for a Clarets side that still haven’t picked up three points at Turf Moor since October last year.

Hayen made some big calls with his team selection, dropping Kyle Walker as one of five changes to the side that were beaten 4-1 by Norwich City.

Max Alleyne and Aaron Ramsey also dropped down to the bench, while Josh Laurent missed out through suspension following his dismissal for two yellow cards.

Zian Flemming, meanwhile, was the other name to drop out following his deadline day move to Ipswich Town.

Hjalmar Ekdal, Oliver Sonne, Ugo Raghouber and Zeki Amdouni all came into the starting XI, while Andreas Hountondji was the man to lead the line ahead of Armando Broja.

Largie Ramazani was the only of Burnley’s three deadline day arrivals to feature, with Igor Julio and Reo Hatate not registered in time.

Lucas Pires missed out through concussion protocol once again following his accidental clash of heads against Bradford City, while Jordan Beyer, Bashir Humphreys, Josh Cullen, Enock Agyei, Jaydon Banel and Ashley Barnes all remain sidelined.

As for Boro, they made three changes from their weekend win over West Brom.

As soon as the game kicked off, it soon emerged that Burnley had shifted to a back five, with Jacob Bruun Larsen and Oliver Sonne playing as wing-backs and Connor Roberts filling in on the left of the back three.

With barely two minutes on the clock, Boro came within a whisker of opening the scoring early on, just as Norwich did at the weekend.

Hjalmar Ekdal was the man caught out by a simple long ball over the top, allowing dangerman Will Lankshear to nip in and beat goalkeeper Max Weiss to the ball, only to knee wide of the unguarded goal.

We had to wait until the 15th minute for Burnley’s meaningful attempt on goal, but it was a good one as Dastan Satpayev - who had started brightly once again - saw a powerful drive well beaten away by Radek Vitek.

But after a shaky start as Burnley got accustomed to their system, the home side settled well and began to grow into the game.

But true to form, they soon went a goal behind as Aidan Morris produced a rasping drive right into the corner of Burnley’s net from a good 25 yards or so out.

It was the 10th goal Burnley have conceded already this season from just the 16th shot on target.

Little happened after the opener, in truth, with Boro looking comfortable in their structure and Burnley struggling to work themselves into promising positions.

Saying that, Morris almost produced a repeat of his goal on the stroke of half-time when he clipped the outside of the post with another long-range effort.

Hannibal, already on a booking, was a walking red card prior to half time, flying into daft challenges and only asking for trouble.

The Clarets were fortunate not to go two down in first-half stoppage-time, but fortunately for them Riley McGree skewed wide after a ball flashed across Burnley’s six-yard box.

Hannibal was predictably withdrawn at half time, with his departure greeted by ironic cheers from the home faithful. Andreas Hountondji was also withdrawn following a disappointing display, with Max Alleyne and debutant Largie Ramazani the two to come on.

The start to the second half was relatively uneventful, that’s until Burnley levelled the scores with a goal completely out of nothing.

Ugo Raghouber was the man to get it, registering his first in Burnley colours, and in some style too, racing forwards, opening his body and curling beyond the goalkeeper’s despairing dive.

Incredibly, Burnley almost instantly made it 2-1 as Satpayev was set free in behind, only to be denied by Vitek’s sprawling legs.

The hosts were playing with far more purpose at this point, getting on the front foot and getting the fans on their side as a result.

Chances, it has to be said, remained at a premium for both sides though, with Boro coming back into the game for the final 20 minutes or so but still struggling to threaten the Burnley goal.

Aaron Ramsey, off the bench to face his former loan club, came within a whisker of giving Burnley the lead in the 79th minute when he flashed a shot just wide from just outside of the box.

Neither side appeared particularly willing to throw caution to the wind during the final stages in a bid to snatch the win, although Boro perhaps looked the more likely.

Substitute Armando Broja could have been Burnley’s hero in the final minute of normal time, having been picked out in space by Ramazani. But his swivel and turn on the edge of the Boro box, rather than shoot first time, saw the change go begging.

TEAMS

Burnley: Weiss, Sonne, Ekdal, Ahmedhodzic, Roberts, Raghouber, Hannibal (Alleyne), Satpayev (Tresor), Amdouni (Ramsey), Bruun Larsen (Broja), Hountondji (Ramazani)

Subs not used: Coudert, Sambo, Walker, Edwards

Boro: Vitek, Ayling, Brittain, Jones (Phillips), McGree (Conway), Morris, Berhalter, Joseph (Castledine), Malanda, N. Borges, Lankshear (Strelec)

Subs not used: Brynn, Byram, Arfsten, Pukstas, Ibeh

Referee: Matt Donohue