Historic highs tend to be followed by anticlimaxes but for Bournemouth the deflation lay solely in the outcome. The 4-3 win against Liverpool last week was described as the greatest result in their 117-year existence and while the sequel contained similar levels of drama, the result will inspire fewer superlatives in Dorset. When asked if it was good to be back at Turf Moor, the former Burnley manager Eddie Howe simply said: “No.”
His side illustrated their powers of recovery for a second successive week, rallying again after trailing 2-0 and 3-1, and scored another injury-time goal, but Charlie Daniels’s thunderbolt did not assume the same significance as Nathan Aké’s winner against Liverpool. Howe had further proof of the character in his group but cautioned: “We don’t [just] want to become a team that plays well when chasing the game.”
Their conquerors are a side who can be relied upon to perform well at Turf Moor. Only Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham can boast more points at home, enabling Burnley to end a run of three consecutive defeats and take a step into mid-table. The win was rendered memorable by Jeff Hendrick’s opener. When Matt Lowton fed the ball forward, the midfielder took one touch to control the ball and his second was a stunning, dipping half-volley that flew past Artur Boruc.
“It is just a shame we aren’t Arsenal so it won’t be shown 1,000 times, just four,” the Burnley manager, Sean Dyche, said.
Burnley’s first goal was fantastic, their second altogether more prosaic but they had another Irish scorer within four minutes. Stephen Ward ended an 1,804-day wait for a Premier League strike after Boruc had clawed Ben Mee’s header off the line. “Criminal,” Howe said, annoyed that Mee was left unmarked. “We started well and found ourselves 2-0 down very quickly.”
It is a familiar situation. The response was typical. Rewarded for his catalytic cameo against Liverpool with a start, Ryan Fraser was Bournemouth’s brightest player, mixing mesmeric runs with astute passes. Another Howe promotion also justified his selection. Benik Afobe marked his first league start of the season with a first top-flight goal since March, converting Simon Francis’s stoppage-time cross to conclude a move the quick-witted Fraser began and which Dyche clocked. “I don’t know where the time comes from,” he said. “One minute was added and my watch said 1.17.” The invigorated Afobe then missed a fine chance to level and had a goal disallowed and played with the hunger of a man desperate for an opportunity.
Burnley, though, also showed appetite and intent. Their positivity was epitomised by their manager. Rather than being cowed by Liverpool’s inability to defend a lead against Bournemouth, Dyche went on the offensive, sending on two strikers and, albeit indirectly,sealing victory.
Ashley Barnes almost scored with his first touch and could have had a brace within 10 minutes of his introduction. Andre Gray also proved profligate but redeemed himself with an inventive backheel to release George Boyd, who drilled in Burnley’s third goal.
“We can be effective from the bench,” Dyche said. “I don’t think we had the depth two years ago. We do now.” And so Burnley, who mustered a mere 14 home league goals during their last stint in the Premier League, equalled that tally in early December. Dyche said: “I was really pleased not just with the amount of chances but golden chances.”
