During the first few weeks of the season, the Clarets could be forgiven for displaying some naiveté in their return to the Premier League.
But we’re now well into the season, and just three days after thumping Sheffield United 5-0, Vincent Kompany’s players were brought back down to earth with another defeat – their 12th in 15 games.
The most aggravating aspect of this outcome was that it was once again self-inflicted.
The performance was excellent. Burnley have shown encouraging signs against some mid-table opposition. They’ve demonstrated that they can compete, but the results have yet to come.
Improved performances against Crystal Palace and West Ham were followed by no points. This game followed the same pattern.
Burnley’s only two victories this season have come against the other two newly promoted clubs, Luton Town and Sheffield United, so it’s time to move on.
As previously stated, the displays are improving. Burnley are unquestionably on the right track. But they can’t keep shooting themselves in the foot; else, they’ll keep giving themselves mountains they can’t scale.
Positives
Let us begin with the bright side. Burnley were the better team in the first half at Molineux. That is not to say it should be taken for granted.
The visitors were in good shape, and their pushing was well-timed and accomplished. The sighs and groans of the home fans attested to the efficacy of Burnley’s plan.
Kompany’s men stayed in shape and held the hosts to very little. Going the other way, it wasn’t quite a flood of opportunities, but they were certainly threatening and asking the proper questions.
Luca Koleosho was the major crux of their early attack, which is why it was so painful when the youthful and explosive winger was taken off with a bang to his knee after only 35 minutes.
After Koleosho’s departure, the Clarets’ speed slowed, with Johann Gudmundsson, the older, wiser head, entrusted with taking his position.
Nonetheless, Burnley found time to waste not one, but two golden opportunities in rapid succession.
It followed clever pressing from both Gudmundsson and Zeki Amdouni, who were able to tag team and pen a Wolves defender deep into enemy territory.
A poor clearance ricocheted back into the Wolves box, where it landed pleasantly for Jay Rodriguez, who was denied by stand-in keeper Dan Bentley with a third goal in as many games on his mind.
Jay Rod should have taken it from eight yards out. He had complete control over the goal.
The ball remained alive, however, and found its way back to Josh Brownhill, who volleyed a low volley into the bottom corner, but Bentley managed to fling himself down and tip it around the corner.
It doesn’t get any better for Burnley in terms of big chances. However, if they had scored, it would have been a well-deserved advantage.
The defining moment
As it was, the Clarets served to give the hosts the lead just four minutes later.
To be clear, I have no problem with Kompany’s approach of playing the ball out from the back. It’s a tactic that has proven extremely effective during his time at the club, and as he stated post-match, it’s helped produce a number of opportunities in recent weeks.
However, at the elite tier, execution must be extremely precise. And occasionally, if a certain pass isn’t on, it shouldn’t be played at all.
We’ve seen it go wrong on multiple occasions already this season, to the point that pundit Alan Shearer brought it up on Match of the Day. Wolves manager Gary O’Neil also stated that it was something his team had discussed prior to the game.
On this occasion, Dara O’Shea put his teammate Sander Berge under unnecessary pressure with a ball into midfield when the Norwegian had two or three men snapping at his heels.
However, playing out from the back requires players to take the ball on under extreme pressure. But crucially, the player receiving the ball must make the right decision when it arrives and ultimately Berge failed to do so.
He hesitated and took a heavy touch, which gifted Wolves possession in the final third. They worked it to Hwang in space inside the Burnley box and he did the rest, slotting past James Trafford with relative ease.
The response
Okay, you may believe there is still plenty of time. There’s no need to be concerned. And yet, you always had the impression that this was going to be a close game determined by the smallest of margins – and so it proved.
However, Burnley’s second-half reaction proved inadequate. They provided almost nothing.
In reality, except from a long-range effort from Vitinho that whistled just wide and a handful of minor bits and pieces from crosses, it’s difficult to recall any notable chances that came their way.
Kompany’s subs arrived late as well. Some fans were surprised to see Nathan Redmond and Wilson Odobert arrive in the 90th minute, when just three minutes of stoppage time had been announced.
Burnley did rally briefly in the closing 10 to 15 minutes, but there was little conviction. Wolves were able to hang on with relative ease.
The performance merited better; a point would have been more than justified. But how frequently will we utter these words? It’s like seeing Groundhog Day all over again.
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