SAM THE SAVIOUR
Vokes lifts Clarets with priceless strike
SAM VOKES scored Burnley’s first goal in European football for 51 years with a priceless equaliser as the Clarets were given a huge fright at Pittodrie.
Boss Sean Dyche’s 67th-minute decision to summon Vokes from the bench soon paid off, the big striker smashing home with 10 minutes left to salvage a draw – which was no more than Burnley’s second-half revival deserved.
Vokes looked lively from the moment he came on as a sub, and it was no surprise when he took advantage of Aberdeen’s hesitancy in the penalty area to bury a fierce effort and make the Clarets favourites to progress.
However, any pre-match ideas that the Premier League side would be comfortable in this latest Battle of Britain were quickly dismissed.
England keeper Nick Pope injured his shoulder after 14 minutes and was replaced by Anders Lindegaard.
Five minutes later, Lindegaard was picking the ball out of the net as Aberdeen took the lead from the penalty spot.
Burnley had every right to feel aggrieved when James Tarkowski was harshly adjudged to have fouled Sam Cosgrove, but Gary Mackaysteven made no mistake.
Jeff Hendrick and Aaron Lennon were the only bright spots for the Clarets early on, and Aberdeen deserved their half-time lead.
It had taken 33 minutes for Burnley to put together a dangerous move. Hendrick took out three defenders with a sliderule pass to Lennon and the winger flew into the box but his cut-back could not find a team-mate.
Another slick move followed, Stephen Ward going down the touchline to put a ball across the face of goal. Jack Cork was poised to tap home but Shay Logan arrived to clear.
Aberdeen keeper Joe Lewis pulled off a superb 49th-minute save to deny Cork but could do nothing when the ball fell to Vokes eight yards out.
39%
Vokes 80
61%