Photos: Burnley 2, Celta Vigo 2

Turf Moor may have undergone cosmetic surgery over the summer, but Sean Dyche’s starting XI has barely had a nip or a tuck.

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

Lukas Jutkiewicz celebrates with Matt Taylor, Ross Wallace and Ashley Barnes after putting Burnley 2-1 ahead v Celta VigoLukas Jutkiewicz celebrates with Matt Taylor, Ross Wallace and Ashley Barnes after putting Burnley 2-1 ahead v Celta Vigo
Lukas Jutkiewicz celebrates with Matt Taylor, Ross Wallace and Ashley Barnes after putting Burnley 2-1 ahead v Celta Vigo

The Clarets boss is a firm believer in unity, familiarity and understanding - a philosophy he’s often branded as a ‘one club mentality’.

And it’s that belief - coupled with some relative misfortune in the transfer market - that’s prompted little change.

Lukas Jutkiewicz celebrates with Matt Taylor, Ross Wallace and Ashley Barnes after putting Burnley 2-1 ahead v Celta VigoLukas Jutkiewicz celebrates with Matt Taylor, Ross Wallace and Ashley Barnes after putting Burnley 2-1 ahead v Celta Vigo
Lukas Jutkiewicz celebrates with Matt Taylor, Ross Wallace and Ashley Barnes after putting Burnley 2-1 ahead v Celta Vigo
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Matt Gilks, Matt Taylor, Steven Reid, Marvin Sordell, Michael Kightly and Lukas Jutkiewicz have all been added to the squad - though Dyche made just two changes for the pre-season friendly with Celta Vigo from the side that began the final home game of the 2013/14 campaign against Ipswich Town. Jutkiewicz - who joined in a £2.25m deal from Boro - slotted in for the absent Danny Ings while Ross Wallace stepped in for Michael Kightly, who scored the only goal of the game against the Tractor Boys.

England Under 21 international Ings was the headline act of last term, scoring 26 goals in all competitions, but he was rested as a precaution after sustaining a slight hip injury. However Jutkiewicz has outlined his potential since abandoning the Riverside Stadium and notched his fourth goal in five games within minutes against the Primera Division outfit.

With the opposition’s full backs in advanced positions, Wallace comfortably found the aperture between Samuel Araujo and David Costas to find Jutkiewicz who advanced in to the penalty area and slotted between goalkeeper Ruben Blanco and the near post.

The Spaniards, whpo fielded nine youth team graduates in the first half, played the open, unpredictable and undefined formation characteristic of their homeland, and the energy and movement crafted space for Araujo who crossed from the left and Jordan Dominguez’s header forced the save from Tom Heaton.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Jutkiewicz, who spent time on loan at the Reebok Stadium with Bolton Wanderers last term, scoring seven times, then imposed himself on the fixture again when holding off his marker from Wallace’s pass only to strike the foot of the post with a low effort.

Ben Mee almost doubled the lead when stealing a yard from his marker to meet Wallace’s corner but the header flashed wide of the upright. Dean Marney then failed to test Blanco moments later after Kieran Trippier and Scott Arfield combined to work the ball infield from the right flank.

With Os Celticos leaving holes at the back the Clarets were able to exploit when pressing high and it was Marney and Arfield who worked the ball to Jutkiewicz which resulted in the striker firing at the legs of Blanco.

Vigo were at the Molineux at weekend where they shared a 1-1 draw with Wolves in an at times bad-tempered affair. Argentine defender Gustavo Cabral reportly headbutted Nouha Dicko in that clash, but it was Santi Mina’s turn to get himself booked on this occasion as he reacted angrily in a coming together with Marney.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And that was as fiery as it got for the remainder of the half, though it culminated with Joaquin Larrivey having an attempt blocked by Heaton after timing his run perfectly to beat the offside trap, before the lone forward headed over from Dominguez’s set-piece.

The second half was a good indicator as to the test of character and resilience the Clarets will face when the Premier League campaign gets underway against Chelsea on Monday, August 18th. After head coach Eduardo Berizzb made wholesale changes, which included Danish international Michael Krohn-Dehli, the away side applied the pressure, which required Ashley Barnes to drop deep and support the four well-oiled banks of four.

Substitute Fabian Orellano went close when wrapping his foot around the ball from the edge of the box to beat Heaton comfortably, but the exquisite effort struck the underside of the bar.

Burnley worked hard to tighten the lines and narrow Celta Vigo’s passing streams, but were guilty of poor ball retention and distribution on numerous occasions that ultimately invited the pressure.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Charles Dias header over as the visitor’s sought the equaliser and Heaton kept out Manuel Agudo Nolito after the forward drifted in from the left-hand side to drill right-footed from the angle of the box.

The away side did get their leveller when Krohn-Dehli and Orellana worked the ball to Alex Lopez who cleverly lifted the ball over Heaton. But the Clarets restored their lead almost immediately when Barnes found space down the left channel and fizzed a centre in to the box for Jutkiewicz who side-footed home for his fifth goal in as many outings.

Arfield looped a header over the bar from Matt Taylor’s lofted cross after the midfielder climbed above Krohn-Dehli, but the away side found the equaliser they

deserved when Orellana’s pinpoint cut back was swept in to the corner by Nolito.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Clarets host Italian Serie A outfit Hellas Verona in their final pre-season encounter on Saturday, with kick-off at 3 p.m.

Burnley team: Heaton; Trippier (O’Neill 84), Duff, Shackell, Mee; Arfield, Marney (Taylor 66), Jones, Wallace; Barnes (Reid 79), Jutkiewicz (Sordell 79). Subs not used: Gilks, Lafferty, Anderson, Hewitt, Gilchrist, Kightly, Long.