Clash of the day | Burnley held at Villa

The final day of the Premier League season is on Sunday but there is a huge night of action this evening, down at the bottom end of the Premier League table.

Everton host Crystal Palace and a home win would see The Toffees finally confirm survival. However, another surprise defeat at Goodison would give Burnley the chance to leapfrog them and set up a dramatic final day with Leeds going to Brentford, Everton going to Arsenal and Burnley hosting Newcastle. 

LINEUPS

ASTON VILLA
XI: Martinez; Cash, Chambers, Mings*, Digne; Luiz; McGinn, Ramsey; Buendia; Watkins, Chukwuemeka
SUBS: Olsen, Feeney, Young, Iroegbunam, Sanson, Nakamba, Coutinho, Traore, Ings

BURNLEY
XI: Pope; Roberts, Long, Collins, Tarkowski*, Taylor; Brownhill, Cork, McNeil; Barnes, Cornet
SUBS: Hennessey, Thomas, Costelloe, Hodgson, Bardsley, Stephens, Lennon, Weghorst

MATCH

The first-half started as it went on; gritty and lacking in major quality. A fierce Ashley Barnes elbow on Tyrone Mings early on was dismissed by the referee and VAR, although his intentions remain unclear.

The first clear moment of quality and chance on goal was via John McGinn. The Scottish international, linked with a move away from Villa Park this week, curled a cross-cum-shot that was well tipped away by a stretched Nick Pope.

Burnley then had a bit of territory for the first time in the match with a couple of set-pieces and near-openings. Dwight McNeil had a strong effort that seemed destined for the top corner headed over by Matty Cash.

McGinn then tested Nick Pope once again. A bouncing ball was struck well by the former Hibernian midfielder but, once again, the Burnley goalkeeper did well to palm behind for a corner.

Then came the moment of drama. Emi Buendia had been rash in the tackle just moments before on Charlie Taylor. This time, the former Norwich man caught a tricky Maxwel Cornet and a fairly obvious penalty was given to The Clarets. Veteran striker Ashley Barnes, who had been a nuisance in the first-half, stepped up to send Emiliano Martinez the wrong way and give Burnley a crucial lead. 

The second-half began with Villa equalising almost immediately. John McGinn cut inside onto his left-foot before delivering a splendid cross into the path of Emi Buendia and the Argentina international guided a volley past a scampering Nick Pope.
Steven Gerrard’s Villains went on to dominate for the next 20 or so minutes with several attacks but nothing meaningful.

Then, all of a sudden down the other end, Josh Brownhill had a half-volley from the edge of the box well saved by Martinez. 
There was then a Villa onslaught. Firstly, Ollie Watkins had an effort tipped over by Pope before Danny Ings, who had been rested, dragged a firm shot wide. The best chance for Villa came when Bertrand Traore directed a header into the bottom corner but eventual man of the match Nick Pope, once again, managed to parry it to safety.

A chance that may haunt Burnley supporters came via Wout Weghorst. The Dutch international latched onto Connor Roberts’ pass, who had just bundled an effort against the post, but the former Wolfsburg forward couldn’t beat a scrambling Martinez and Villa survived. The Argentine ‘keeper had more work to do from the resulting corner when Aaron Lennon’s low effort stung his gloves.

There was to be some more drama, amid Villa’s push, and that was the red card for Matthew Lowton. The former Villa man lunged in taking the ball but making contact quite high on Calum Chambers’ ankle. VAR decided it was enough for Lowton to be sent off and get suspended for Sunday’s crucial encounter against Newcastle, just five minutes after being subbed on.

SUMMARY

Kick-off
’45 | GOAL: Barnes pen (0-1)
Half-time 
’48 | GOAL: Buendia (1-1)
’90 | RED CARD: Lowton 
Full-time