Goalkeeping error costs underwhelming Clarets

Burnley were left to rue a poor goalkeeping error as they played out a draw at QPR in Fabio Celestini’s first away game in charge.

In truth, the Clarets were fortunate to come away with a point, with Largie Ramazani’s surprise first-half strike their only shot on target of the whole night.

QPR were the better organised and drilled side throughout and, while they struggled to create many clear-cut chances, they earned themselves a point when Jonathan Varane’s effort squirmed under Gregoire Coudert’s dive.

It means that the Clarets, who now find themselves four points adrift of safety, have now lost a total of 20 points from winning positions this season.

Celestini named an unchanged side from the weekend’s 0-0 draw with Portsmouth, along with the same bench.

Ben Amos, Jordan Beyer, Bashir Humphreys, Shurandy Sambo, Hannibal, Jacob Bruun Larsen, Dastan Satpayev, Mike Tresor, Zeki Amdouni, Ashley Barnes, Armando Broja and Michael Obafemi are all sidelined or unavailable.

As for QPR, they made two changes from their 4-1 defeat to Southampton at the weekend.

Burnley put themselves under some early pressure by being wide open twice in the opening two minutes. On the second occasion, Josh Laurent was forced into a foul that earned him a booking, but also handed the Hoops a free kick in a threatening position 25 yards from goal.

Harvey Vale’s curling effort beat the despairing dive of Gregoire Coudert and looked destined for the top corner, but thankfully for the Clarets it flew inches wide.

QPR were by far the better side during the opening exchanges, playing some zippy stuff in between the lines and putting Burnley on the back foot right from the off.

The Clarets were at sixes and sevens, especially defensively, panicking and giving the ball away needlessly time and time again.

The visitors continued to be pulled apart with worrying ease, as they failed to get to grips with QPR’s incisive passing through the thirds.

While it remained one-way traffic during the first half, QPR were still unable to fashion a clear-cut chance.

That allowed Burnley to slowly, but surely grow into the game, but when they took the lead in the 38th minute, it still came completely out of nowhere.

Largie Ramazani was the man to get it, seemingly taking the goalkeeper by surprise with a long-range effort that squirmed under Pierce Charles’ despairing dive.

Burnley ‘celebrated’ the goal by holding a lengthy team huddle in the QPR half, much to the home fans’ frustration.

One almost instantly became two, as Andreas Hountondji slotted home at the back post following some incisive build-up play, only to be met by the linesman’s offside flag.

Unlike their last away game at Lincoln, Burnley managed to hold on until half time thanks to Gregoire Coudert, who made an excellent reaction stop to turn Ronnie Edwards’ deflected strike around the post.

Despite the lead, Burnley had still been second best during the first 45 minutes, so it was a little surprising to see them emerge unchanged for the second half.

QPR produced a response at the start of the second half and Hjalmar Ekdal was required to make an important block to deny Glen Kamara.

Marcus Edwards had offered very little for Burnley, so it wasn’t a great surprise to see him hooked off before the hour mark. The only surprise was that it was Aaron Ramsey who was the man to replace him.

QPR’s two subs, meanwhile, immediately combined as Illias Chair blazed over from a more than presentable position from Rayan Kolli’s pullback.

Burnley then could easily have added a second when Jamie Vardy flashed a dangerous ball across the face of the six-yard box, but Ramsey couldn’t quite get the touch.

A couple of minutes later, the home side were level. From Burnley’s perspective, it was a real soft goal to concede as Jonathan Varane’s side-footed effort from the edge of the box squirmed under his grip.

While he had to get a stronger hand to it, those in front of him didn’t exactly do their jobs either, with Varane left in all sorts of time and space to pick his spot.

Burnley, to their credit, managed to settle themselves and almost restored their lead 20 minutes from time when Vardy fired into the side netting after latching onto a good ball through from Hountondji.

They were also boosted by the emergence of Josh Cullen and Jaydon Banel from the substitute’s bench for the final stages, but still QPR looked the more likely.

Igor Julio was forced to scoop a clearance up and over his own bar during the final minutes of normal time, as a downward header caused panic within Burnley’s backline.

The Clarets were then handed a major let off in the final minute of normal time, as QPR sub Justin Obikwu dragged a shot wastefully wide of goal after being played through.

TEAMS

QPR: QPR: Charles, Adamson, Dunne, Edwards, Cirkin (Kemper), Karama, Varane, Vale, Saito (Chair), Smyth (Obikwu), Kone (Kolli)

Subs not used: Ward, Morrison, Alemayehu, Dembele, Poku

Burnley: Coudert, Walker, Ekdal, Igor, Pires, Laurent, Hatate (Cullen), Edwards (Ramsey), Ramazani, Hountondji (Banel), Vardy (Sonne)

Subs not used: Weiss, Ahmedhodzic, Alleyne, Roberts, Raghouber

Referee: Tom Reeves