It didn’t pay to fork out for this one
FANS ARE SHORT- CHANGED
IF pay- per- view in the Premier League is going to catch on, they will want better games than this.
With ironic timing, these teams produced the first 0- 0 of the season which leaves both still searching for their first win – and it is very doubtful many viewers felt they got value for money from their £ 14.95.
Yet both clubs can take heart from this stalemate as they produced solid displays which can perhaps help them in future games.
For Albion it was a welcome clean sheet to climb out of the drop zone after conceding 13 goals in their first four games. Slaven Bilic’s call to go with a new central defensive partnership of Branislav Ivanovic and Ahmed Hegazi paid off.
Burnley’s front two were frustrated as Ashley Barnes was denied twice and Chris
Wood headed against the bar. Clarets manager Sean Dyche said: “It is a point on the board which is pleasing psychologically.
“We have been through a challenging period but we looked more like ourselves.
“Woody and Barnes looked a handful and it was a solid performance with some good moments in there.”
Burnley were without right- back Phil Bardsley who was self- isolating following a positive Covid- 19 test.
Barnes had a couple of sights of goal but first put a lob too close to keeper Sam Johnstone, who then made a fantastic one- handed stop to turn away his angled drive.
The hosts finished the half the stronger as Ivanovic had a goalbound volley blocked and debutant Karlan Grant had a header ruled out for offside.
After the break, Grady Diangana had an effort saved for Albion before Ivanovic had a shot blocked and Nick Pope denied Darnell Furlong in a hectic few seconds.
Yet it was Burnley who went closest when Wood headed Ashley Westwood’s cross on to the top of the bar from eight yards out in the 63rd minute. Johnstone also made a good save five minutes later when Barnes headed Dwight McNeil’s cross goalwards and opposite number Pope spread his giant frame to claw away Matheus Pereira’s volley at the back post late on.
Baggies manager Bilic said: “I think football should be affordable for everybody, it is not polo.”
Johnstone 9; Furlong 6, Ivanovic 8, Hejazi 7, Townsend 7; Livermore 6; Gallagher 6, Kroninovic 6 Sawyers 79); Pereira 6 ( Phillips 88), Grant 6 ( Robinson 73), Diangana 7.