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Premier League
Aug 13, 2016 at 3pm UK
 
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Live Commentary: Burnley vs. Swansea City

Relive Sports Mole's text commentary of Swansea City's 1-0 victory at Burnley.
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Swansea City began their Premier League campaign with a narrow 1-0 away to Burnley.

Leroy Fer snatched three points for the visitors with a close-range finish, eight minutes from time.

The result hands Burnley their first defeat in a league match since Boxing Day 2015, when they were beaten by Hull City.

Relive the best of the action with Sports Mole's text commentary.


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Hello and welcome to the first day of a new Premier League campaign and the return to the top flight of Sean Dyche's Burnley, who take on Swansea City at Turf Moor.

The Clarets secured automatic promotion with some ease, winning the Championship and are unbeaten in the league in 2016. Their last defeat came against Hull City on Boxing Day 2015.

Swansea, however, have endured a summer of changes. Out went captain Ashley Williams and striker Andre Ayew. However, Francesco Guidolin has reshaped his forward line, with Fernando Llorente and record signing Borja Baston moving to the Liberty Stadium.

Without further ado, let's bring you the team news from Turf Moor...

BURNLEY XI: Heaton; Lowton, Keane, Mee, Ward; Arfield, Marney, Jones, Boyd; Gray, Vokes

BURNLEY SUBS: Robinson, Kightly, Jutkiewicz, Ulvestad, Gudmundsson, Tarkowski, Darikwa

SWANSEA XI: Fabianski; Naughton, Amat, Fernandez, Kingsley; Cork, Britton, Fer, Routledge; Llorente, Barrow

SWANSEA SUBS: Van der Hoorn, Dyer, Nordfeldt, Montero, Rangel, Sigurdsson, Fulton


Not many surprises in the Burnley starting lineup. As expected, Andre Gray and Sam Vokes lead the line. Liverpool loanee Jon Flanagan is not included today as he continues to build his fitness following two lengthy layoffs in recent years. Summer signing Johann Berg Gudmundsson is included, but is only on the bench.

Swansea give a debut to former Athletic Bilbao, Juventus and Sevilla forward Fernando Llorente and the travelling support from South Wales will hope he lives up to that CV. No involvement for Borja Baston. Fans will have to wait to see the £15m frontman, who scored 18 times for Eibar last season.

Iceland's Euro 2016 hero Gylfi Sigurdsson makes the bench. The midfielder joined up with the club late in their pre-season preparations. Only six weeks ago, he was featuring in the Stade de France against the host nation.

Wales's own Euro 2016 stalwart Ashley Williams recently jumped ship to join Everton. However, head coach Francesco Guidolin this week challenged his squad to step up and fill the void left by the defender.

He told BBC Sport: "We have leaders in this team. Leaders are not only captains, and in this situation all of us have to show more personality and character and courage.

"We will miss some of these with Ash, not just the player but as a man."


Meanwhile, for Sean Dyche the dilemma is whether to spend big in the transfer market before the end of August. He admitted that he is likely to have to break the club's transfer record to add to his current squad, although Dyche was critical of the "astounding" numbers involved in buying players at the moment.

Despite the lack of activity so far, Dyche will be hoping that last season's star signing Andre Gray can transfer his goalscoring prowess to Premier League level as the Clarets try to avoid immediate relegation once again.

However, in Swansea they face a side that has enjoyed the better of recent meetings, having won four of the five league encounters. Indeed the Lancashire outfit have beaten the Swans just once in 21 years, a 2-1 victory in April 2011, when both sides were plying their trade in the Championship.

That said, Burnley lost only five times in the league last season and have scored on the opening day of the season in 17 of the last 18 years, so expect a fast start. Swansea's concern will be at the back, the loss of Williams will do little to help stem a lack of clean sheets in 2016. The Swans are still waiting for their first this calendar year.

Elsewhere, champions Leicester City have begun their title defence with a shock defeat away to Hull City. You read more on that early kickoff here.

The bookmakers have Burnley as slight favourites for today's game, although Swansea are hardly rank outsiders. This game could give us a clue as to where both sides are likely to feature in the table towards the end of the season. Both would surely love a strong start and avoid a relegation dog fight.

Not long until kickoff at Turf Moor, a bright day in Lancashire for what should be a keenly-contested opening game of the season.

KICKOFF! We're underway at Burnley...

Almost immediately, Swansea win a free kick after Stephen Ward clattered into Modou Barrow. Noticable that Cork tried to get Llorente into the game early on with a floated ball over the top.

The set-piece came to nothing. Burnley in response try to go direct as Michael Keane seeks out Andre Gray with a through ball. It's quickly cut out by the Swans backline.

CLOSE! Vokes chases down an aimless ball and manages to keep it in play, he plays it inside and Britton is forced to clear his lines. Enterprising start from the hosts. Arfield tries his luck from distance, but Fabianski is equal to the low strike.

Swansea are trying to get Llorente into the game at every opportunity, but the Spaniard not threatened so far. Early days though!

CHANCE! Well I spoke too soon! Burnley fail to clear and Routledge delivers a cross from the right flank, but Llorente failed to generate enough power on his header to seriously test Heaton.

Andre Gray scored 23 goals last term, but hasn't had a sniff so far. Quiet start from last season's top scorer. Free kick to Swansea on the left side of the box after another foul, but against can't make the most of their chance.

Lowton tries a long diagonal ball in the direction of Gray who has pace to burn, but he needed to be Usain Bolt to catch that pass and it's out of play.

Fabianski appeared to flap at a corner, but the Pole got enough on the ball to clear the danger. Nevertheless, Burnley have started brightly.

UPDATE Elsewhere, fellow new boys Middlesbrough are ahead against Stoke, Ronald Koeman's reign at Everton has started well as they lead at home to Tottenham. Watford are also in front at Southampton.

SHOT! Barrow tries to force an opening by cutting in from the right flank. His shot is fired at Boyd and Barrow tries to persaude referee Jon Moss to give a penalty. His claim is weak at best!

CHANCE! A let off for Burnley as Mee tries to be clever in possession and is pickpocketed by Llorente. The striker's shot is meek to say the least, but the Clarets will be concerned at the amount of the space he found in a dangerous area.

Ward slides in and then claims that Barrow is diving. He may have a point, but Ward is flirting with the referee's book at the moment after a few choice tackles.

FOUL! By the same token Amat is also fortunate to avoid a yellow card as he hacks down Vokes. Jon Moss being very lenient in the early stages.

Swansea starting to knock the ball around in midfield. They move the ball from right to left, but their move breaks down when Llorente strays offside.

Gray finally into the game in a dangerous area. Turns Kingsley on the right side of the area, but the defender knocks the ball out for a corner. Fabianski flaps at another set piece, but Swansea eventually survive.

SHOT! Again Gray turns the Swansea backline, latching onto Boyd's pass, but the forward's shot from the tight angle is speculative and find the stands.

Certainly plenty of effort on both sides, but there has been a lack of genuine chances so far...

CHANCE! As soon as I bemoan the lack of goalmouth action, Swansea waste the best chance of the half so far. Barrow digs out a cross from the left to Routledge at the far post. The winger strikes across goal, but doesn't hit the target.

Barrow gets a talking to from the referee for what appears to be dissent. He is walking a proverbial tightrope after his spot of playacting earlier.

Cork short of options produces a cross, which Ward should head away from danger, but he gives away a corner. Thankfully for the left-back, the hosts stay on terms.

SAVE! Burnley break at pace and Gray threatens down the right-hand side. He shoots and Fabianski produces a solid stop to deny the frontman.

YELLOW CARD: Jon Moss finally brandishes a card to David Jones, although the midfielder is not happy with the decision.

CLOSE! Vokes to rescue as a corner floats into the dangerous area, just in front of Heaton.

One minute of added time in the first half at Turf Moor.

HALF TIME: Burnley 0-0 Swansea City

Well, a keenly-contested opening period by both sides and the chances all came towards the end of the half. In particular, Wayne Routledge going close as he fired across the face of goal.

Llorente has struggled to force a genuine save out of Heaton, but the former Sevilla man has always looked to make himself available for a pass and is constantly looking to get into the game. It's easy to see why the Swans wanted the striker this summer.

BENCH WATCH: For Swansea, the obvious switch would be to bring in Gylfi Sigurdsson, but their midfield has looked competent in possession. The Icelandic international's lack of fitness may mean he plays little more than a cameo role. That is unless they trail Burnley at some stage.

For Burnley, they do have Johann Berg Gudmundsson to call upon. However, with Andre Gray starting to find his feet later in the half, he may have to wait for his debut.

STATS: The visitors shaded possession with 59% of the ball in the first 45 minutes. They also had far more shooting opportunities (eight to Burnley's two). However, they arguably created just clear cut chance, so they will hope for better in the second period.

Players are heading out of the tunnel at Turf Moor. Will we see a goal in the second half. It feels like the game will come to life, if the deadlock is broken early.

We're back underway at Turf Moor!

Almost immediately Barrow fires a cross into the box, which Heaton claims comfortably. The winger is continually finding space, which will be a concern for Sean Dyche.

Routledge tries to fire a cross in from the right, but Mee clears with diving header. Swansea are trying to press. However, there have been some sloppy touches in and around the Burnley box.

CHANCE! Naughton finally delivers a dangerous cross. Heaton completely misses the punch. Fer looks to direct the loose ball goalwards, but fails to beat the defender in front of him. A chance missed from the visitors.

Naughton again involved in an advanced area, but the full-back decides to volley from an acute angle instead of crossing. Needless to say the shot missed.

YELLOW CARD: Amat goes into the book for what can only be described as a rugby tackle on Gray. That challenge was more Six Nations than Premier League!

CLOSE! Jones floats a ball into the mixer and Fabianski, again, misses it. Keane takes an air-shot and Swansea stay level. Any touch as Burnley would be in front.

Cries of hand ball from the Burnley supporters as Fabianski rushes out of his goal to stop a flying Gray. That would have been harsh, but the referee also isn't buying the keeper's subsequent theatrics.

SAVE! Fabianski called into action again, producing a flying stop to turn away Vokes's crisply-struck volley.

SWANSEA SUB: Sigurdsson is finally on in place of Britton. I'm surprised as it looked as though Britton was playing fairly well.

SHOT! Lowton fires a shot off-target for the hosts. They appear to be the most likely to score at this point.

SAVE! It didn't take long for Sigurdsson to get into the game. He gets a free kick over the wall and his effort dips. Heaton is equal to it though and tips away.

CLOSE! How did Fernandez miss? Inside the six-yard box, he meets a flick on and, with an open goal, somehow nods the ball over. It was easier to miss!

Back up the other end, Burnley win another corner. They will keep trying, but another set-piece goes begging.

YELLOW CARD: Ward is the latest to pick up a booking and there is no argument. Takes down Montero, who has just come on. He took a card, in order to stop a Swansea breakaway.

There is little doubt that the game has come to life, but we await the opening goal and time is ebbing away in Lancashire...

Dyche is cutting a frantic figure on the touchline, while Guidolin appears to be kicking every ball in his technical zone. Can either manager unlock the other's defence. We may see some final substitutions. To clear up, Montero came on for Barrow, who was impressive and industrious.

Montero gets on the end of a Routledge cross and heads straight into the hands of Heaton. Dyche will be livid that the smallest player on the pitch got a header in at the back post.

BURNLEY SUB: Gudmundsson makes his debut, coming on for Arfield and getting a decent reception. Just before that, Vokes went down claiming a penalty, but the appeals were rightly waved away.

Great ball by Lowton from the right. It should have been met by a Burnley head and yet it wasn't. The story of the game so far. Threatening, but a cutting edge is lacking.

CHANCE! Montero has been lively since his introduction. Another cross into Llorente and, again, a timid finish with his head.

YELLOW CARD: Lowton is the third Burnley man to be booked. He hacks down Montero, although the winger made a bit of that.

GOAL! Burnley 0-1 Swansea (Leroy Fer)

Have Swansea snatched three points late on? Montero's cross made that chance and Llorente attacks the ball at the near post. Heaton stopped the first effort, but Fer pounces on the rebound to score. The travelling Swansea support go mental behind the goal.

CLOSE! Almost an equaliser from Burnley as Gray shoots narrowly wide. Time is running out for the Clarets.

BURNLEY SUB: Last roll of the dice by Dyche as he replaces Jones with Jutkiewicz.

YELLOW CARD: Fernandez picks up a yellow after hacking down Marney. Free kick in a dangerous area, just outside the box.

Four minutes of added time to go...

SAVE! Marney hits a fierce drive and Fabianski saves again. He's been poor under the high ball, but has pulled off some strong saves.

Kingsley hacks the ball away. Burnley are throwing everything at Swansea, who have everyone back.

Llorente give away a free kick, which is fairly central. Needless challenge! Gudmundsson lines it up...

Such a poor delivery. Fabianski claims on the stretch and that must be that, surely?

FULL TIME: Burnley 0-1 Swansea

Well, a hard-fought win by Swansea, who had to withstand plenty of second half pressure from a dogged Burnley side, but it is Welsh side who leave Lancashire with three points. Stay with Sports Mole for all the reaction from the opening day of the Premier League, but for now it's goodbye.

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Ashley Williams of Swansea City in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Watford and Swansea City at Vicarage Road on September 12, 2015
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3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1610422191232
4Burnley168621961330
5Middlesbrough1683529191027
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom166821811726
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8Millwall166641914524
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City165742020022
11Derby CountyDerby165562020020
12Stoke CityStoke165561920-120
13Norwich CityNorwich164752524119
14Swansea CitySwansea165471414019
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds165471826-819
16Luton TownLuton165381826-818
17Coventry CityCoventry164572223-117
18Oxford UnitedOxford Utd164571924-517
19Plymouth ArgylePlymouth164571728-1117
20Preston North EndPreston163761624-816
21Cardiff CityCardiff164481524-916
22Hull City163671621-515
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR161871326-1311


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