Lancashire | Burnley battle to important win over Leeds

Burnley 2 - 0 Leeds United

Loum Tchaouna’s stunning second-half strike secured Burnley a much-needed victory over Leeds United.

Author | Andrew Montgomery 

Stadium | Turf Moor

View from the stands

The Clarets had not tasted league success since overcoming Sunderland in August, but sealed a deserved three points when the France Under-21 winger unleashed a fierce 30-yard drive into the top corner.

Lesley Ugochukwu, who found the net in Burnley’s 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa before the international break, had earlier headed in Kyle Walker’s precise cross to put Scott Parker’s side in front.

Leeds struggled to make an impact before the interval but came close to equalising when Brenden Aaronson’s effort deflected off Martin Dubravka and struck the post.

Despite enjoying more possession after the break, the visitors offered little threat, with Jack Harrison twice shooting harmlessly wide from distance.

What might have been a tense finish for the home support was instead settled in emphatic fashion by Tchaouna’s thunderous goal, clinching Burnley’s second league win of the campaign.

Clarets rediscover their defensive strength.

Burnley have shown flashes of quality this season, but a run of four defeats in five league games had left them in urgent need of three points against the side that pipped them to the Championship title on goal difference last year.

Scott Parker responded with three changes from the 2-1 defeat at Villa Park and, crucially, a switch to a back four for the first time this campaign. The adjustment paid off as his side stood firm after the interval to secure a much-needed victory.

Burnley defended well throughout

The hosts’ first-half breakthrough came courtesy of Walker’s superb inswinging cross, which found Ugochukwu perfectly positioned to steer home past Karl Darlow from close range.

Several Burnley players appeared far more assured in Parker’s reshaped line-up, notably the 21-year-old Ugochukwu and midfield pair Josh Cullen and Florentino, whose calm distribution under pressure provided a solid platform throughout.

Although Burnley failed to muster another attempt between Ugochukwu’s opener and Loum Tchaouna’s thunderous second-half strike, a second clean sheet of the season represented clear progress for a team that conceded only 16 times in the Championship last season.

The victory lifts the Clarets above Nottingham Forest and out of the Premier League’s bottom three, offering renewed hope after a difficult few weeks.