All White Wood just can’t stop scoring

Chris Wood has scored the matchwinning goal in his home debut for Burnley to continue a sensational introduction to the Premier League club.

Making his first-ever EPL start, All Whites striker Wood fired home in the third minute of their 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, pouncing on a poor back pass by Lee Chung-yong in the third minute.

The club’s record signing brought the Turf Moor crowd to life and the mood rarely faltered for the rest of the match as Burnley’s second win from four games lifted them to seventh in the standings.

Wood has made quite a statement since his move from Championship club Leeds United last month. His debut came off the bench against powerhouse Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley, when he scored the equaliser. The 25-year-old then returned to New Zealand and scored a hat-trick in the All Whites’ 6-1 win over the Solomon Islands in the first leg of their World Cup qualifying clash.

Burnley struggled to create further chances for Wood yesterday, conceding the greater share of possession and territory to their opponents.

However, the All White front man’s predatory instinct proved the differ- ence as he became the first player in Burnley history to score in his first two EPL matches.

It was the $27.3m signing’s first start after having made 11 substitute appearances in the EPL, firstly with West Bromwich Albion and then Leicester City.

Burnley manager Sean Dyche said Wood proved a crucial figure as Burnley struggled for their best.

“It’s our worst performance of the season so far but the shape of the team, the belief in each other, was on show,” he said. “Chris Wood has made a good start. He has a desire to prove himself in the Premier League. It was a great finish.”

Wood is just the second player from Oceania to score in their first start in the Premier League — the other was Australian Brett Emerton in August 2003 for Blackburn against Wolves.

Wood is the sixth New Zealander to start an EPL match after Ryan Nelsen, Winston Reid, Simon Elliott, Danny Hay and Lee Norfolk.

Burnley’s next match is away to English giants Liverpool — who sit a place below them on the table — next weekend before they face Wood’s former club Leeds in a midweek EFL Cup fixture.