BREN’S SAVED BY SPECIAL Kasper blocks Clarets bid and Kelechi makes a point
ONE top-class finish from Kelechi Iheanacho and a world-class save from Kasper Schmeichel rescued a valuable point for Brendan Rodgers’ injury-ravaged Leicester City.
Under normal circumstances, a point against the Clarets might have been considered a disappointing result for a side with genuine Champions League aspirations.
But, given the injuries and the fact that Burnley summoned up arguably their best performance of the season, this was a decent result.
Striker Matej Vydra’s opener had put the Clarets ahead after just four minutes and, in a performance crackling with physicality and intent, the hosts might have been out of sight on another night.
But Iheanacho’s superb volley on the turn levelled matters and Schmeichel kept Burnley at bay with a series of blocks. The best denied a near perfectly placed header from Chris Wood early in the second half.
“There are moments when it looks like it is going to be a goal and he pulls off a save,” said Rodgers, of his goalkeeper.
“He always produces for us.
“He was absolutely outstanding when he had to be tonight and that is why he is one of the top keepers at this level.
“And Kelechi produced a brilliant goal – fabulous technique.”
Rodgers (above) is currently managing a full-blown injury crisis at Leicester, with Harvey Barnes set for surgery on a knee injury today and Jonny Evans adding to a growing list last weekend. James Maddison, Dennis Praet, Ayoze Perez, James Justin and Wes Morgan are already battling for room on the treatment table.
Last night it meant fielding midfielder Wilfred Ndidi in a three-man back line and it proved a sticking-plaster solution that was exposed early on.
Hamza Choudhury sold Ndidi short with a poor backpass, but the latter reacted slower than Vydra, with the Burnley forward firing high past Schmeichel for his first league goal in 375 days. But Ndidi atoned when chipping a lovely ball over the top for Iheanacho in the 34th minute.
The striker’s finish was out of the top drawer, hitting the ball dropping over his right shoulder with a first-time, left-foot volley from 12 yards out.
Schmeichel had denied both Wood and defender James Tarkowski from close range in the first half.
But he produced his worldie from Wood after full-back Matt Lowton’s centre was headed back across goal.
Burnley midfielder Ashley Westwood rattled a post at one end and the Foxes’ Youri Tielemans at the other as the game pinballed from box to box.
But neither team could find the decider
Burnley manager Sean Dyche was pleased with the way his team reacted after their previous abject effort resulted in a 4-0 defeat against Tottenham.
But the Clarets’ fourth home draw in the league did leave a slightly sour taste.
Dyche said: “It was a very good response to the Spurs result performance-wise.
“But you don’t want the keeper to be man of the match.
“However, we have gone about it in a perfect manner.”