The verdict on Burnley’s miserable defeat to Swansea City

Jamie Vardy might be here, but Burnley certainly aren’t having a party. Far from it.

Their horror start to the season took another wrong turn at Swansea City as the Clarets lost, once again, to slump to the bottom of the Championship table.

Seven games in, Burnley remain winless. They’ve lost four of those seven league fixtures. They’ve shipped 16 goals, the worst of any side in the division, matching their season total under Scott Parker the last time they were at this level.

Sixteen goals in 46 games, to 16 goals in seven games.

It’s now 214 days and counting since the last time Burnley claimed three points. We’re now nearing a year since the last time they won a home league game. Home or away, it’s one league win since October.

It’s been 12 months of complete utter and abject failure.

If Tuesday night at Wrexham was one very small step forward, this was another two or three steps back.

And yet, if we’re ignoring the wider context for a second, because the problems clearly go deeper, this wasn’t the worst performance in the world.

It might seem it, because of the two nightmare gaffes that sum up the season so far, but the statistics prove this was actually a relatively equal affair.

Swansea had seven shots on target compared to Burnley’s six, while the two sides had four big chances apiece.

In fact, it was Nicky Hayen’s side who produced the more shots, getting 18 attempts off at goal compared to the home side’s 14.

Burnley also had two goals disallowed, Vardy having a debut strike ruled out after Connor Roberts was harshly ruled offside, while Lucas Pires’ corner, which went all the way in, was also chalked off for a very soft-looking foul on the goalkeeper.

But what the numbers don’t tell you is that Burnley just don’t look right.

Swansea were Swansea. They played the ball through the thirds confidently, with neat triangles, pass and move football and quick and consistent positional rotations. They pressed aggressively too.

Ironically, it sounds very similar to the football we were promised at Burnley this season, a style that’s yet to materialise.

Burnley, by comparison, have no identifiable style. The players still look like they’re getting to know each other, passes too often go astray and they’re far too easy to score against. It’s clearly a process, but the current evidence shows it will be a long one.

While Swansea take such good care of the ball, Burnley continue to give it away at reckless frequency.

While that’s something Hayen can address, and must do - fast - there’s not a great deal he can do to stop his goalkeeper gifting opposition strikers a simple tap-in into his empty net.

After a relatively bright start, at least by this season’s standards, Burnley pressed the self-destruction button once again just 13 minutes into this encounter.

Weiss, who’s already yet to fully convince, only strengthened those calls for him to be dropped when he took too long to deal with a hopeful punted clearance down the centre of the pitch.

Stood outside his box, he delayed his decision a second or two too long, allowing Adam Idah the opportunity to charge him down. The ball ricocheted towards goal and Idah couldn’t miss, with an empty goal awaiting him.

Perhaps one mistake of that nature can be excused, but two in one half sums up Burnley’s current plight.

Ugo Raghouber was the next culprit, lazily playing a blind pass as the Clarets looked to recycle the ball back into the box after their own corner had been partially cleared.

Swansea gleefully pounced on the loose ball and Moussa Yeo took full advantage, slotting past Weiss at his near post after racing into the acres of space ahead of him.

While Weiss wasn’t directly at fault for this goal, he still could have done better, which is something I’ve found myself repeating on numerous occasions already this season.

By then, let’s be honest, the game was as good as done.

Burnley improved in the second half and briefly threatened a comeback when Largie Ramazani, one of a handful to emerge with any credit, toe poked home his first goal for the club after a smart long ball forward from Igor Julio, another of those that warrant praise.

At this point in the game, the Swans were a little rattled and Burnley enjoyed a decent spell of pressure. Perhaps a point could be salvaged?

But again, this Burnley side wilt far too easily. It takes very little to breach their defences or to knock them off their stride. As Josh Laurent poetically put it, they just seem a bit “childish”.

One simple ball forward allowed Swansea substitutes Ronald and Zan Vipotnik to combine, allowing the latter - supposedly a player of interest to Burnley during the summer window - another simple tap-in.

What ensued after that was a little embarrassing, in truth, as Swansea passed it around at will and brought out their box of tricks. “We’re taking the p**s”, was the chant from the natives. Quite.

Reflecting on the club’s predicament, it’s abundantly clear the issues go far beyond the last couple of months, which is how long Hayen has been in the job.

But Hayen, seven games into the new season, is already coming under increasing pressure.

He’s admitted as much himself, repeatedly claiming his side just have to find a way to “survive” until the upcoming international break. But of his own admission too, that “survival” still requires picking up some points, and wins, along the way. Points and wins that aren’t exactly forthcoming.

Instead, this miserable run sets up a depressingly huge game with fellow early strugglers Derby County next week. Hayen’s already said it’s a game Burnley must win.

Seven games into the season and it’s really come to this?

I mean, he’s not wrong. It’s probably a must-win for him on a personal level. Lose and the toxicity of Bristol City last week will feel like nothing compared to the uproar Turf Moor will surely experience with a defeat to John Eustace’s Rams.

It’s difficult to know where Burnley go from here. Sure, they could sack Hayen if they lose next week. And then what?

The club feels in complete chaos, on and off the pitch, at this current moment in time. Axing Hayen - after he’s barely even started - feels like a sacrificial lamb, akin to applying a plaster to a broken leg.

Yet Burnley might be left with no choice.