Burnley 0 Bournemouth 2: Kompany’s side edge closer to relegation as Kluivert and Semenyo strike for Cherries
ANOTHER DAY, another defensive clanger, another defeat for Vincent Kompany and the side bleeding itself dry of Claret.
Justin Kluivert with a 13th minute strike and Antoine Semenyo with another late on claimed the points.
Their his boss Andoni Iraola will have headed back to the South Coast knowing that his side got very lucky in sealing their first win in eight games.
For Bournemouth were there for the taking almost all the way through – except that Kompany’s men just don’t have what it takes.
Self–inflicted wounds at the back, failure to take chances at the other end have been the constant narrative all the way through a season that now stands as the Clarets worst-ever at Turf Moor.
This was their 11th home defeat, they have taken only five points on their own patch and here, for nothing like the first time this season they only had themselves to blame.
As one of the great centre backs of his generation former Manchester City skipper Kompany must look on with horror at what has gone on within his rear guard throughout a campaign descending into humiliation.
The scenario that unfolded for Kluivert to collect his sixth goal for the Cherries said it all.
Lewis Cook sent forward nothing more than a hopeful punt but Dara O’Shea, stupidly booked within 30 seconds for preventing a throw–in, switched off.
Kluivert sped with him, then turned inside the bemused centre half and smashed home.
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It was that easy for him. That bad for Burnley.
Just as maddening for Kompany will have been how his side missed a perfect opportunity especially during a first half in which they enjoyed 75 per cent possession to smash the Cherries instead.
The Cherries were languid, detached even, probably having started out believing all they needed to do was turn up to win against a side that is doomed to return to the Championship.
That they weren’t made to pay for their negative attitude was a crime against the locals who dutifully, almost pitifully, keep coming back for more.
The problem for the Clarets is that they are not much better at taking opportunities than they are at keeping the ball out of James Trafford’s net.
Five minutes in, Vitinho fired in a fine low cross after a crisp inter-passing move but Wilson Odobert snatched at his shot and Neto easily dealt with it.
After pulling themselves together following Kluivert being presented with his sixth goal of the season they attacked with verve again.
Sander Berge sent a low pass straight down the middle into David Datro Fofana’s patch but the striker on loan from Chelsea dallied for a millisecond and Neto was there to block him.
The ball spun to Jacob Bruun Larsen who’s attempt from 14 yards was charged down by Adam Smith.
Charlie Taylor then came up with a superb 22-yard free kick but Neto just managed to claw away from under the bar.
Vitinho, revelling in his role on the right of midfield then got on the end of another excellent delivery from Taylor only to head over.
Irola’s pre–match planning was partly spoiled by the departure of left back Marcos Senesi, forced off with a thigh strain after only 12 minutes.
Yet there could be few other excuses from his side’s under-performance.
But there were none at all for Burnley ‘s failure to go in at the break leading by at least one goal and possibly more.
Josh Cullen did get the ball in the net only for his 66th minute effort to be disallowed after Taylor climbed all over Smith to flick on for his captain.
Bournemouth kept sitting back, static and negative until Semenyo took it upon himself to have a bit of a go.
Twice the wing back went close with low efforts and when he moved forward for a third time in the 88th minute nobody picked him up.
No surprise there, then, or at least almost certainly not for Kompany.