Under-23s held to another draw
A third Turf Moor game today for the under-23s and a third draw, this time 1-1 against Nottingham Forest and yet again this was another game that should have been won.
Other than a short spell just before the hour, when Zac Clough forced two good saves from Lukas Jensen, this was very much our game and one, had the chances been taken, we would have won comfortably.
For the rest of the game we were so much on top and should have had this game won long before we missed a stoppage time penalty minutes after Forest had scored a surprise equaliser.
Playing towards the cricket field end in the first half, virtually the whole of the game was played in that half of the pitch and the only question to be asked was how it was we only went in to half time with a one goal lead. That goal came from Ali Koiki on 27 minutes. After some really good work from Lewis Richardson, he found Koiki who curled a shot into the corner to give us the lead.
Nothing much changed in the second half and Koiki should have got his second just a few minutes in but headed against the bar and then hit the rebound over the bar. Soon after, from nowhere, Forest suddenly got into the game for a few minutes and Zach Clough, who played against our under-23s last season for Rochdale in the Lancashire Senior Cup, twice forced Jensen into good saves.
But it was short lived from the visitors who were second best for virtually the whole of the game but remained in it as a contest only because we couldn’t score that second goal with both Richardson and Rob Harker guilty at times despite the excellent play from Koiki and Ne-Jai Tucker (pictured) who impressed on the right hand side.
Then, with just five minutes remaining, Forest won a corner on the right that most observers were convinced was a goal kick. Forest captain headed the corner against the bar and was first to react to the rebound and scored a hardly deserved equaliser for his team.
Even then, the game should have been won with the Clarets having two more gilt edged chances. In the final minute of the ninety, Richardson went through, took it round the goalkeeper and should probably have scored before he was fouled by Forest sub Max Ram who was promptly red carded immediately after the referee had awarded the penalty.
Koiki, who scored twice from the spot a week ago against Ipswich, stepped up but this time goalkeeper Mario Siampanis saved his kick with Koiki only able to lift the rebound over the bar.
With four minutes added, would there be another chance? There was, but Harker missed his header and once more we had to settle for a draw, our sixth in eight league and cup games this season.
The teams were;
Burnley: Lukas Jensen, Ryan Cooney, Bobby Thomas, Oliver Younger, Anthony Glennon, Ne-Jai Tucker (Tunde Bayode 87), Christian N’Guessan, Adam Phillips (Mace Goodridge), Ali Koiki, Rob Harker, Lewis Richardson. Subs not used: George McMahon, Jordan Cropper, Scott Wilson.
Nottingham Forest: Mario Siampanis, Rezart Rama, Mallique Spooner (Owen Gallagher 41), Ethan Stewart (Max Ram 60), Danny Preston, Tyrese Fornah, Josh Barnes, Kieran Hayes (trialist ht), Keith Asare, Zach Clough, Will Swan. Subs not used: Michael Statham, Victor Sodeinde.
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