Burnley fight back to beat Aston Villa

Ben Mee's goal was his second for Burnley this season

Chris Wood headed in a late winner as Burnley came from behind twice to grab an unlikely victory against Aston Villa in a thrilling match at Turf Moor.

Villa had been 2-1 ahead with 14 minutes remaining before Dwight McNeil's low cross evaded everyone for an equaliser and the midfielder then crossed for Wood to score Burnley's third.

The visitors dominated the first half and had gone in front when Ollie Watkins flicked the ball into the net following Matt Targett's low cross from the left.

After a number of fine saves by Clarets goalkeeper Nick Pope, the hosts levelled through Ben Mee's header, only for Villa to regain the lead with Jack Grealish's half-volley.

But Burnley, who had only scored five times in their previous eight home Premier League matches this season, found two more goals to ease their relegation concerns.

They remain 15th in the table, but are 10 points ahead of 18th-placed Fulham, who play away at fellow strugglers Brighton on Wednesday.

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Superb Pope performance denies Villa

For Dean Smith's Villa, who remain 10th, they will be wondering just how they failed to take all three points and then left Lancashire empty-handed.

Within only three minutes, the away side should have gone ahead when Ezri Konsa headed over when well placed, before Watkins was the first of many players to be denied by England international Pope.

Watkins flicked Villa into a 13th-minute lead, but Pope then saved from the impressive Grealish and in a one-on-one chance with Watkins, with Ross Barkley then shooting against the crossbar with the rebound.

But Villa kept on creating chances as Bertrand Traore's strike was blocked by Mee, with Pope showing great reflexes to then save Tyrone Mings' follow-up. Targett was the next man to be frustrated and the missed opportunities continued to come in the second half with John McGinn also denied.

With the score at 1-1, Grealish, following a superb individual run from the halfway line, saw his strike blocked by Pope, although Grealish then got a deserved goal before Pope then stopped Watkins making it 3-1 to Villa.

The hosts ended strongly and goals from McNeil and Wood, both coming inside a three-minute spell, gave Burnley the three points.

More to follow.

Player of the match

PopeNick Pope

with an average of 8.21

BurnleyBurnleyBurnleyAston VillaAston VillaAston Villa

BurnleyAvgSquad number1Player namePopeAverage rating

8.21

Squad number11Player nameMcNeilAverage rating

7.30

Squad number6Player nameMeeAverage rating

7.21

Squad number9Player nameWoodAverage rating

7.18

Squad number27Player nameVydraAverage rating

6.87

Squad number4Player nameCorkAverage rating

6.82

Squad number5Player nameTarkowskiAverage rating

6.68

Squad number23Player namePietersAverage rating

6.64

Squad number18Player nameWestwoodAverage rating

6.55

Squad number2Player nameLowtonAverage rating

6.50

Squad number7Player nameGudmundssonAverage rating

6.45

Squad number19Player nameRodriguezAverage rating

6.43

Squad number8Player nameBrownhillAverage rating

6.21

Squad number12Player nameBradyAverage rating

6.09

Aston VillaAvgSquad number10Player nameGrealishAverage rating

7.75

Squad number11Player nameWatkinsAverage rating

6.68

Squad number18Player nameTargettAverage rating

6.09

Squad number6Player nameDouglas LuizAverage rating

6.08

Squad number7Player nameMcGinnAverage rating

6.07

Squad number5Player nameMingsAverage rating

5.85

Squad number4Player nameKonsaAverage rating

5.53

Squad number26Player nameMartínezAverage rating

5.50

Squad number2Player nameCashAverage rating

5.42

Squad number15Player nameTraoréAverage rating

5.40

Squad number20Player nameBarkleyAverage rating

5.30

Squad number17Player nameTrézéguetAverage rating

4.76

Squad number21Player nameEl GhaziAverage rating

4.75

Squad number39Player nameDavisAverage rating

4.10

Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsBurnley

Formation 4-4-2

1Pope2Lowton5Tarkowski6Mee23Pieters12Brady18Westwood8Brownhill11McNeil19Rodriguez9Wood

1Pope2Lowton5TarkowskiBooked at 22mins6Mee23Pieters12BradySubstituted forGudmundssonat 60'minutes18Westwood8BrownhillSubstituted forCorkat 45'minutes11McNeil19RodriguezSubstituted forVydraat 75'minutes9Wood

Substitutes

4Cork7Gudmundsson15Peacock-Farrell16Stephens26Bardsley27Vydra28Long34Dunne41Benson

Aston Villa

Formation 4-2-3-1

26Martínez2Cash4Konsa5Mings18Targett6Douglas Luiz7McGinn15Traoré20Barkley10Grealish11Watkins

26Martínez2Cash4Konsa5Mings18Targett6Douglas LuizSubstituted forDavisat 89'minutes7McGinn15TraoréSubstituted forTrézéguetat 83'minutes20BarkleySubstituted forEl Ghaziat 83'minutes10Grealish11Watkins

Substitutes

1Heaton3Taylor17Trézéguet19Nakamba21El Ghazi22Engels27El Mohamady39Davis41Ramsey

Referee:Paul TierneyMatch StatsHome TeamBurnleyAway TeamAston VillaPossessionHome38%Away62%ShotsHome10Away18Shots on TargetHome5Away10CornersHome2Away4FoulsHome16Away7Live TextPost update

Match ends, Burnley 3, Aston Villa 2.

90'+5'Full Time

Second Half ends, Burnley 3, Aston Villa 2.

90'+1'Post update

Corner, Burnley. Conceded by Matthew Cash.

89'Substitution

Substitution, Aston Villa. Keinan Davis replaces Douglas Luiz.

83'Substitution

Substitution, Aston Villa. Trézéguet replaces Bertrand Traoré.

83'Substitution

Substitution, Aston Villa. Anwar El Ghazi replaces Ross Barkley.

82'Post update

Offside, Burnley. James Tarkowski tries a through ball, but Chris Wood is caught offside.

81'Post update

Foul by Jack Grealish (Aston Villa).

81'Post update

James Tarkowski (Burnley) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

81'Post update

Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the left wing.

81'Post update

Foul by Matthew Lowton (Burnley).

79'goalGoal!

Goal! Burnley 3, Aston Villa 2. Chris Wood (Burnley) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Dwight McNeil with a cross.

78'Post update

Foul by Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).

78'Post update

James Tarkowski (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

76'goalGoal!

Goal! Burnley 2, Aston Villa 2. Dwight McNeil (Burnley) left footed shot from long range on the left to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Erik Pieters.

75'Substitution

Substitution, Burnley. Matej Vydra replaces Jay Rodriguez.

74'Post update

Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

74'Post update

Foul by Chris Wood (Burnley).

74'Post update

Attempt saved. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Bertrand Traoré.

73'Post update

Attempt missed. Jay Rodriguez (Burnley) right footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the right. Assisted by Jack Cork with a headed pass.

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Source: bbc.com