Burnley 1 v 1 Preston North End (Mid-Season Friendly)
The Clarets returned to action this lunchtime as Lancashire neighbours Preston North End arrived at Turf Moor for a mid-season friendly match to improve match fitness before the Premier League season re-starts for the Clarets next Monday away at the Etihad Stadium against Manchester City.
Matej Vydra who still holds the Budweiser Premier League’s goal-of-the-month award showed he is still in the groove as he struck an explosive finish just after fifteen minutes showing a fine first touch before getting the ball out of his feet and crashing a left-footed shot passed Declan Rudd into the roof of the net to make it 1-0 at half-time.
At the start of the second-half, Declan Rudd was on hand to deny Vydra a second goal as the striker found himself in space twelve yards out, but the Preston North End keeper produced a terrific save at full stretch to tip the ball over the crossbar. This was to add to a brace he scored in a mid-week training ground game at Gawthrope were the striker was on target yet again.
It wasn’t enough to give the Clarets victory as North End who resume their play-off push in the Sky Bet Championship at Luton Town next Saturday hit back just after the break through Scott Sinclair with a superb solo goal as he made his way in to the box before taking it beyond Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope and firing in to the net beyond the clarets defender on the line.
But boss Sean Dyche will have been pleased to see many of his senior men get a run-out and seemingly come through unscathed with more valuable game-time in their legs. The Clarets re-start their Premier League campaign at Manchester City on Monday the 22nd June 2020, had chances to win it in the second half, with Vydra a regular threat.
However, the Clarets striker was denied by an excellent save from North End keeper Declan Rudd, who also made a fine one-handed stop to keep out an effort from Rodriguez. Nick Pope was not as busy at the other end but made a superb late double save as Sinclair looked to get on the scoresheet again. The Clarets made a number of changes after the break on a beneficial afternoon which also allowed them to get a feel for a near-empty Turf Moor ahead of the behind-closed-door Premier League fixtures.
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