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Datro Fofana double earns Burnley point against Fulham

Datro Fofana double earns Burnley point against Fulham
David Datro Fofana scores twice on his home debut as Premier League strugglers Burnley come from 2-0 down to draw with Fulham at Turf Moor.
Fulham score the opening goal against Burnley

David Datro Fofana scored twice on his home debut as Premier League strugglers Burnley came from 2-0 down to draw with Fulham at Turf Moor.

The Clarets looked set for a 10th home league defeat of the season as first-half goals from Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Muniz put Fulham in complete control.

But Chelsea loanee Datro Fofana changed the game after being introduced as a second-half substitute, cutting the deficit in the 71st minute before netting a stoppage-time equaliser.

The draw earned Burnley only a fifth home league point of the season and they remain in the relegation zone, seven points from safety, while Fulham have moved up to 12th.

Fulham took the lead after 17 minutes when Palhinha flicked on a near-post corner which deflected off Sander Berge and over Burnley keeper James Trafford.

Just three minutes and 45 seconds later, a long ball over the top beat the home offside trap, with left-back Vitinho slow to push out in Burnley's high defensive line, and Muniz was able to lob Trafford for his first Premier League goal.

Fulham had the biggest chances early in the second half too, Trafford doing well to push a Tosin Adarabioyo header over the bar and save from Muniz at his near post.

Those stops kept Burnley in the match and they pulled one back as Fulham keeper Bernd Leno misjudged a cross, allowing Datro Fofana to head into an empty net.

And deep into stoppage time the Ivory Coast striker - who joined Burnley in January after spending the first half of the season on loan with Union Berlin - slid ahead of his marker to bundle in Wilson Odobert's low cross at the near post.

Fulham's winless away run in the top flight now stretches to 11 matches, and the Cottagers have not won a league match in Burnley since April 1951 - a run of 29 games.

Burnley show grit as new signings impress

No Premier League team has stayed up after taking just 12 points from their first 22 matches - Burnley's total before Saturday's fixture.

They realistically needed to start mounting their escape here, with an unkind fixture list featuring Liverpool away and Arsenal at home in their next two games.

And the Clarets started well - only a last-gasp Tim Ream tackle denied Odobert a glorious chance after eight minutes, while the young French winger shot just wide after weaving through the away defence later in the first half - but Fulham's quick one-two punch knocked the wind out of Vincent Kompany's side.

The introduction of Datro Fofana helped to rouse the hosts, and there were also encouraging performances from Kompany's other January acquisitions to provide Burnley fans with some hope they can launch a survival bid.

Right-back Lorenz Assignon started after arriving on loan from Rennes and put in a lively display, while their other deadline day signing - central defender Maxime Esteve - provided stability after coming on at half time.

This draw marks the first time in 19 Premier League games where Burnley have avoided defeat after falling behind.

For Fulham, it ensures their away frustration continues - although a point ends a five-match losing run away from Craven Cottage in the league.

It was a good day personally for Brazilian forward Muniz, who started after Raul Jimenez was ruled out by a hamstring issue, while Armando Broja was on the bench having joined on loan from Chelsea on deadline day.

With his game time perhaps about to be severely restricted, Muniz seized his chance to demonstrate his qualities to manager Marco Silva and looked emotional while celebrating his goal.

Line-ups

Burnley

Formation 4-4-2

1Trafford

20Assignon2O'Shea18Ekdal22da Silva

8Brownhill16Berge21A Ramsey47Odobert

25Amdouni17Foster

  • 1Trafford
  • 20AssignonSubstituted forMassengoat 90'minutes
  • 2O'Shea
  • 18EkdalSubstituted forEsteveat 45'minutes
  • 22da SilvaSubstituted forBruun Larsenat 87'minutes
  • 8Brownhill
  • 16BergeBooked at 84mins
  • 21A RamseySubstituted forGudmundssonat 63'minutes
  • 47Odobert
  • 25AmdouniSubstituted forFofanaat 63'minutesBooked at 90mins
  • 17Foster

Substitutes

  • 7Gudmundsson
  • 23Fofana
  • 24Cullen
  • 28Al Dakhil
  • 31Trésor
  • 33Esteve
  • 34Bruun Larsen
  • 42Massengo
  • 49Muric

Fulham

Formation 4-2-3-1

17Leno

21Castagne4Tosin13Ream33Robinson

26João Palhinha6Reed

14De Cordova-Reid18Pereira20Willian

19Muniz Carvalho

  • 17Leno
  • 21Castagne
  • 4Tosin
  • 13Ream
  • 33Robinson
  • 26João Palhinha
  • 6ReedBooked at 43mins
  • 14De Cordova-ReidSubstituted forCairneyat 74'minutes
  • 18PereiraBooked at 45minsSubstituted forTeteat 85'minutes
  • 20Willian
  • 19Muniz CarvalhoSubstituted forBrojaat 74'minutes

Substitutes

  • 1Rodák
  • 2Tete
  • 9Broja
  • 10Cairney
  • 12Ballo-Touré
  • 28Lukic
  • 44De Fougerolles
  • 57Sekularac
  • 62King
Referee: Darren Bond Attendance: 20,203

Match Stats

Live Text

Post update

Match ends, Burnley 2, Fulham 2.

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