FT: Burnley 1, Sheffield United 1 (Burnley won 5-4 on penalties)

Burnley advanced to the third round of the Carabao Cup on penalties - but of more concern was the sight of Johann Berg Gudmundsson being stretchered off in the first half.
Johann Berg Gudmundsson is carried offJohann Berg Gudmundsson is carried off
Johann Berg Gudmundsson is carried off

With the Clarets 1-0 down to David McGoldrick's early goal, Iceland international Gudmundsson was caught late by the follow through from Blades centre back Jack Robinson.

Robinson cleared the ball, but left a straight leg and connected with some pace with Gudmundsson.

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Referee Paul Tierney and his assistant didn't even see fit to give a free kick, never mind the red card which would surely have been brandished in the Premier League, with VAR in use.

Burnley recovered from the sight of losing one of their teammates to what looked like could be a serious injury, and came from a goal down to equalise and force penalties,

West Ham target James Tarkowski sat out the game with a toe injury, meaning there was a debut for young centre back Jimmy Dunne, who started alongside Kevin Long, with Ben Mee also out injured.

Nick Pope started in goal, with Matt Lowton and Charlie Taylor the full backs.

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The midfield four was Gudmundsson, Josh Brownhill, Ashley Westwood and Robbie Brady, with Jay Rodriguez and Matej Vydra up front.

The Blades made a quick start, however, and went in front within four minutes as Jack Robinson slipped the ball inside Matt Lowton for debutant Max Lowe, and his low centre was turned in off the far post by McGoldrick, as Dunne collided with Pope - who, thankfully, was okay after treatment.

Moments later, Oliver Burke - another summer signing at Bramall Lane, burst past Dunne, and looked to have run the ball out, but managed to pull the ball back across goal, with no takers.

Then came Robinson's thumping challenge on Gudmundsson, which looked awful from the opposite side of the stadium in real time.

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Sean Dyche simply shook his head in disbelief at the prospect of losing yet another key member of his threadbare squad for some time.

Erik Pieters came on for Gudmundsson, and Burnley created a couple of half chances in the first half, as skipper Westwood's corner caused havoc, but a shove from Long and subsequent handball from Dunne put an end to any hope of a chance.

Rodriguez was then close to turning in Westwood's low cross, as the Clarets started to use the ball better.

Burnley-born Oliver Norwood's free kick couldn't catch out Pope, before Vydra ran off the back of Phil Jagielka and was brought down in the box by keeper Wes Foderingham - only to see the off-side flag raised.

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Late in the half, a poor challenge from behind from Westwood on Sander Berge also went unpunished, as you began to wonder if Tierney had brought his cards.

In the second half, Burnley had the chance of the game, but Brady hit the post right footed when he had to score, after a surging run from Pieters and the perfect pass.

Brady was then late on Berge - again with no card brandished, leaving the Sheffield United players vocal in their questions of Tierney.

The Clarets were level midway through the second half when Lowton's whipped ball was chested down by Rodriguez for Vydra, who deftly lifted the ball over Foderingham and in.

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Shortly after Vydra was causing problems again, as he was brought down on the edge of the area by Phil Jagielka, but Brady's free kick was deflected well wide.

Sheffield United weren't finished as an attacking force though, and Taylor made a big block to deny substitute Oli McBurnie from 10 yards out.

Westwood was taken off seemingly as a precaution, with Josh Benson making his debut, and Burnley again went close as Lowton whipped over another fine centre, but Vydra's glancing header took the ball off the better placed Rodriguez and flew wide.

As the sides looked to avoid penalties, McBurnie's shot was deflected into the side netting, and the Scotland striker's instinctive side foot forced a great stop from Pope, from Lowe's mis-hit shot.

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But neither side could avoid the spot kick lottery, and in front of the Jimmy McIlroy Stand, Norwood sent Pope the wrong way to make it 1-0, before Wood buried his effort beyond Foderingham.

McBurnie's effort was nowhere near the corner and saved by Pope, and Vydra took advantage, finding the bottom left.

Pope got a hand to Billy Sharp's kick, which just beat him, and Brownhill made it 3-2.

Berge sent Pope the wrong way, with Pieters following suit to make it 4-3.

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Ben Osborn drilled home when he had to score, and Brady made sure to win it and seal a third round clash at Millwall next week.

Burnley: Pope; Lowton, Long, Dunne, Taylor; Gudmundsson (Pieters), Westwood (Benson), Brownhill, Brady; Rodriguez (Wood), Vydra.

Subs: Peacock-Farrell, Thomas, Bardsley, McNeil.