Turf Moor turns toxic as Burnley lose at the death

Turf Moor threatened to turn toxic as Burnley threw away the chance to end their long and painful wait for a win by losing late on against Bristol City.

Aaron Ramsey’s emphatic second-half strike looked to have sent the Clarets on their way to a first victory of any kind in 90 minutes since February.

But nervousness and anxiety soon set in, as Burnley retreated further and further back in a bid to hold onto their lead, resulting in Rob Dickie heading home an 80th-minute equaliser.

But it got even worse at the death, as Yu Hirakawa struck a low effort past Max Weiss to leave the Clarets empty-handed.

It means the Clarets still remain without a league win at home since October last year, a wait of 322 days.

Nicky Hayen’s side are also now bottom of the Championship, owing to Preston North End’s win in the lunchtime derby against Blackburn Rovers.

News of a big injury blow emerged before kick-off when Dastan Satpayev, the biggest plus point of Burnley’s season so far, was missing from the match day squad.

The Chelsea loanee is understood to have picked up an injury, having been withdrawn late on against Middlesbrough and seen leaving the pitch clutching his hamstring.

Elsewhere, Hayen made six changes in total from the midweek game as he freshened up his starting XI amid Burnley’s busy schedule.

A number of players, such as Connor Roberts and Anel Ahmedhodzic, are having their minutes managed, with the duo among those to drop to the bench.

Deadline day signing Reo Hatate was thrown straight in for his Clarets debut, while Max Alleyne, Kyle Walker, Aaron Ramsey and Larguie Ramazani all started.

For Ramazani, it was the winger’s full debut after the Leeds United loanee impressed off the bench against Boro.

Josh Laurent, meanwhile, also came into the starting XI after serving his one-match suspension in midweek.

Surprisingly, Andreas Hountondji continued in attack despite a poor display against Middlesbrough, which saw him hooked off at half time.

Hannibal, Zeki Amdouni and Jacob Bruun Larsen all dropped down to the bench alongside Ahmedhodzic and Roberts.

Deadline day arrival Igor Julio, who hasn’t had much of a pre-season, was only fit enough to make the bench.

Lucas Pires missed out the final match as he served concussion protocol following his accidental clash of heads during the recent cup tie against Bradford City. He’s back fit for Wrexham on Tuesday.

Jordan Beyer, Bashir Humphreys, Josh Cullen, Enock Agyei, Jaydon Banel and Ashley Barnes all remain sidelined, while Marcus Edwards and Mike Tresor missed out.

As for Bristol City, they made four changes to the side that beat Preston North End 3-1 in midweek. Former Claret Scott Twine was among those to start.

It was a slow, muted start to proceedings, with not a great deal of quality on show - and that goes for both sides.

Aaron Ramsey had Burnley’s first attempt on goal in the ninth minute, but was only able to lash comfortably over after a corner had been cleared to him on the edge of the box.

Even during the early stages, you could sense the home supporters becoming increasingly frustrated with the sidewards and backwards passing on show, with moans, groans and even some boos being heard.

It was an otherwise dull half of football, lacking in any sort of goalmouth action or drama.

Bristol City registered their first shot on goal just before the half-hour mark, when Lorant Tolaj flashed a deflected shot wide of the upright after Hatate had been dispossessed in his own half.

The Clarets then had to rely on Max Weiss making a superb fingertip stop to deny Jed Wallace, whose curling effort looked destined for the top corner. But the German had other ideas, flying across goal to turn it around the post.

While the home side at least ended a passive, subdued and flat half with some intention to open the scoring, they still went into half time without producing a shot on target.

For the second time in four days, Hayen oversaw a double change at half time, bringing off Hjalmar Ekdal and Andreas Hountondji for Anel Ahmedhodzic and Armando Broja.

Robins striker Tolaj got the wrong side of Ahmedhodzic in the Bosnian’s first taste of action, but fortunately for the Clarets the striker lashed well wide.

We finally had lift off a few minutes later though as Burnley broke the deadlock with a fine finish from Aaron Ramsey.

The midfielder, scoring his first league goal for the club, lashed home in emphatic fashion on the edge of the Bristol City box after being teed up by debutant Hatate.

The sense of relief was palpable, allowing the Clarets to play with some newfound momentum and confidence as they chased a quick second.

But without doubling their lead, given Burnley’s long, long wait for a win, you knew we’d be in for a nervous last 25 minutes or so.

Robins sub Dom Ballard lashed one just over from inside the Burnley box, as the visitors looked to get back on level terms.

Somehow Michael Skubala’s side didn’t equalise in the 70th minute when they somehow managed to squander two huge chances in quick succession.

Hesitation in Burnley’s backline gifted Yu Hirikawa the chance to score, but he could only crash an effort off the bar. The ball immediately rebounded to Tolaj, but he lazily lashed over an empty net.

As the minutes slowly ticked away, Burnley gradually got deeper and deeper, only inviting more and more pressure from the away side.

Without a threat on the counter attack, you felt holding a one-goal lead wasn’t going to be sustained all the way to the final whistle.

Alas, Burnley weren’t able to hold on and Bristol City levelled with 10 minutes left on the clock.

Rob Dickie was the man to get it, heading home from a corner. While Weiss got a hand to the effort, he was unable to keep it out.

The away side sensed the nervousness around Turf Moor and looked to go on and win the game, as Ballard once again skewed wide of goal.

The Robins would go on to fully capitalise and win it at the death, as Hirakawa struck a low shot through a crowd of bodies and past Weiss.

Turf Moor immediately turned toxic, with fans venting their anger and turning their ire towards Alan Pace.

TEAMS

Burnley: Weiss, Walker, Ekdal (Ahmedhodzic), Alleyne, Sonne, Raghouber, Laurent, Hatate (Amdouni), Ramsey (Hannibal), Ramazani (Bruun Larsen), Hountondji (Broja)

Subs not used: Coudert, Julio, Roberts, Castell

Bristol City: Tickle, Cardines, Dickie, Eissat, Pring (Tanner), Williams, Yah (Ballard), Knight, Wallace (Hirakawa), Twine (Greenwood), Tolaj (Adebayo)

Subs not used: Collins, Eile, Randell, Horvat

Referee: Gavin Ward