Burnley end dismal away record

BURNLEY’S wait for a win on the road is over and Sam Allardyce’s wait for redemption continues.

In the case of the former, no away wins since last season was a painfully bad look for a side who otherwise had done so well that they would have been backed to stay up even had they lost this game.

Their win came courtesy of finishes from Ashley Barnes and Andre Gray at either end of this match. With those goals, Burnley moved on to 39 points and sent Sean Dyche into a fist-clenching celebration. Simultaneously, it kept Allardyce from enjoying the vindication of Premier League survival.

The opener, on eight minutes, came after Luka Milivojevic coughed up possession before the ball was worked left to Stephen Ward. His cross caught Joel Ward flat-footed and Barnes had enough space that he could throw in a poor touch and still score.

In the subsequent celebrations, James Tarkowski was floored by a lighter thrown from the Palace supporters. FA action may follow.

Allardyce’s side looked sharper after the break, with Milivojevic having one drive saved by Tom Heaton. There was also a penalty appeal from Wilfried Zaha against Jon Flanagan that was correctly ignored before Gray, on for Barnes, went clear and beat Wayne Hennessey at his near post. At the whistle, Dyche threw up his arms and allowed himself a big smile. His season is now freed of an embarrassing footnote.