Burnley didn't do badly on their first Premier League outing since their shortlived previous appearance in the top flight in 09/10, especially considering they were playing the team widely considered favourites to take the title, but will need to sharpen up their defending if they are to have a longer stay than the last one. They were reasonably confident going forward and Scott Arfield's goal was not only a great moment for the crowd, but a well deserved one from the quality of the build-up play. They had a couple of good chances to grab another, later forcing new Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois into a good save at full stretch, but few sides have managed to survive a return to the Premier League by outscoring the opposition. A tight defence is all important in avoiding relegation and that's where Burnley need to tighten up and fast. They held firm in the second half, but that seemed more down to fatigue on Chelsea's end and a desire to see out the game without overtaxing players already struggling for match fitness. The movement of Diego Costa troubled them throughout the first period and goalkeeper Tom Heaton was fortunate not to concede a penalty and be sent off for an offence which the referee mistook for a dive from the Chelsea striker. Key players like Fabregas were given just a bit too much room and Costa's equaliser was the result of a simple ball into the box being allowed to trickle through the entire Burnley defence to the far post. They won't be facing this calibre of opposition every week and such games certainly won't be the deciding factor in their season, but there were certainly useful lessons to be learnt in a mostly encouraging Clarets performance.
28-year old English writer with a borderline obsessive passion for films, videogames, Chelsea FC, incomprehensible words and indefensible puns. Follow me on Twitter if you like infrequent outbursts of absolute drivel.
