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Post by Football News on May 24, 2015 16:12:36 GMT
Burnley bow out with win after Danny Ings strikes early at Aston Villa Aston Villa 0 - 1 BurnleyDanny Ings 6 Striker Danny Ings celebrates after heading the winning goal in Burnley's narrow 1-0 victory at Aston Villa. Photograph: Peter Cziborra/Action Images Aston Villa supporters will be hoping this was a case of ‘before the Lord Mayor’s show’ as they warmed up for the FA Cup final with a distinctly below-par performance on a day when Burnley signed off from the Premier League with a typically gutsy display rewarded by only their second away win of the season. Fittingly, it was Danny Ings who scored the only goal of the game and he went over to the Burnley faithful to wave farewell after the final whistle blew with Sean Dyche’s team at least avoiding bottom place with this win. It has been a hearty effort from Burnley, following last year’s promotion from the Championship, and they gave their all today, as they have all season long, even if that has not proved sufficient to stay up. Villa secured their Premier League status last week, after their fine resurgence under Tim Sherwood, but finish one place above the relegation zone after ending with successive defeats. Now they must raise their game back to its previous level of intensity if they are to give Arsenal a run for their money at Wembley next Saturday. It was to Burnley’s credit that, although they have the Championship rather than the Cup final to look forward to, they were more up for the challenge on the day. Once ahead, they also had the knowledge that when they score, they tend to get something out of a game. It is more than three months since they scored and lost. Danny Ings’ winner at Hull a fortnight ago was the only goal Burnley had scored in their previous eight games so when he headed neatly home in the sixth minute, after Ashley Barnes nodded back into the danger area following Fredrik Ulvestad’s heading duel, the travelling supporters celebrated wildly. It was Ings’ 11th Premier League goal of the season and, if this is to be his final game for Burnley, a fitting leaving present. He could have doubled the advantage as well, after Ron Vlaar had blasted a half volley wide at the other end, but following superb right-wing work from George Boyd, the England Under-21 striker lifted his head back as he shot over from the far corner of the six-yard area. It was not that Villa were playing badly, just that their concentration seemed slightly awry. The 6-1 thrashing at Southampton last week had indicated their minds had already started turning to Wembley but, apart from Jed Steer being granted his Premier League debut with Shay Given presumably rested, Tim Sherwood named his strongest available line-up. With their elite status no longer under threat, it was difficult for them to find top gear. Securing a place in a Cup final team, however, should have sharpened the Villa players’ focus more than it did. Christian Benteke, oozing confidence, chested one cross down from Leandro Bacuna before seeing his shot deflect wide off Michael Keane before the Belgian stretched to force a good save from Tom Heaton, fresh from his England selection, after meeting Fabian Delph’s cross. The Burnley goalkeeper also tipped over Ashley Westwood’s acrobatic shot, just before half-time, and denied Gabby Agbonlahor after the interval as Sean Dyche’s team sat deep. Boyd could have scored, breaking onto Ings’ assist, but Steer came out to save well. Generally though, Villa pressed for much of the half, Heaton diving one way to parry Delph’s shot, then the other to repel Charles N’Zogbia’s. Guardian
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