DANGER... ICE BERG AHEAD
It’s not looking Gud for Clarets
JOHANN BERG GUDMUNDSSON could be nicknamed ‘Tunnel King’ after Charles Bronson’s character in ‘The Great Escape’.
Because the 33-year-old has been part of many survival acts since moving to Burnley in 2016.
Gudmundsson is the Clarets’ only remaining veteran from their five successful seasons under Sean Dyche before reality and relegation caught up with them in 2022.
No one has dug more tunnels or scaled more fences than the Iceland winger when it comes to beating the drop and he feels Burnley are lacking in the key moments.
Vincent Kompany’s side were leading West Ham until the 86th minute when they conceded twice to suffer an 11th defeat in 13 Premier League games.
Gudmundsson (inset) said: “I thought we played really well, but it’s these key moments in the game where we have to be confident for 90-plus minutes.
“We can’t lack in focus or anything, that’s where we need to learn.
“We need to know the quality in this league is really good and we can’t switch off for a moment.
“Especially at home, we need to aim for a clean sheet. We’ve not had that this season and that’s obviously something we need to fix.
“It’s just that focus for the whole duration of the match. That’s where teams
are catching us out so hopefully we can rectify that as quickly as possible.”
The unwanted records just keep coming for Kompany (right) – Burnley have lost six successive top-flight games for the first time in 128 years.
They have equalled Newport County’s English league low from 1970 of losing their first seven home matches (circle, Anass Zaroury looks dejected). The obvious solution would be to ditch Kompany’s progressive style and sacrifice possession to become harder to beat.
But Gudmundsson feels that would be wrong and says no one complained when they walked the Championship last season, amassing 101 points, playing champagne football.
“Obviously taking that into this league is tough, but I think we’ve been playing really well over the last few games, although we know it’s a results-driven business,” he said. “It’s tough to take, but we’ll just keep playing the football we’ve been playing. I think it’s really effective and I think its good to watch. That’s just how we’re going to keep playing.”
It all looked so different when Jay Rodriguez scored the opener from a penalty after the tricky Luca Koleosho was fouled by Mohammed Kudus.
But then Dara O’Shea turned home Kudus’ ball four minutes from time and everything changed at Turf Moor.
Burnley collapsed and the Hammers finally came to life.
Substitute Divin Mubama deserves credit for his part in the equaliser, even if it was credited as an own goal.
West Ham must resolve the teenager’s contract situation to avoid losing him when his deal expires next summer.
The away side sensed a winner and it came in the first minute of stoppage time when Kudus floated a cross over to Tomas Soucek at the back post and he volleyed home superbly.
David Moyes’ men have now won four of their last five matches in all competitions.
The Hammers are ninth, and looking forward to resuming their successful European campaign at Backa Topola on Thursday, while Burnley stare up at the rest of the league from the bottom of the table.