Football news - Westwood secures crucial Burnley win after Pope saves Vardy penalty
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ByEurosport
Updated 19/01/2020 at 18:06 GMT
Premier League, Turf Moor - Burnley 2 (Wood 56', Westwood 79') Leicester City 1 (Barnes 33')
Jamie Vardy of Leicester City reacts to having his penalty saved during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Leicester City at Turf Moor on January 19, 2020 in Burnley, United Kingdom.
Image credit: Getty Images
Jamie Vardy's penalty miss proved costly as Burnley recovered from a half-time deficit to record their first win in five games.
Leicester had most of the play and for a long period in the second half were very comfortable at 1-0, following Harvey Barnes' 40 yard run and smart finish just after the half-hour mark.
Chris Wood put the Clarets back in the game 11 minutes after the break when Kasper Schmeichel could only parry Ben Mee's towering header from a far-post corner.
Then came the pivotal moment when Mee brought down Barnes and the Premier League's top scorer stepped up from 12 yards out but saw Nick Pope dive to his left to deny him.
The Clarets made sure Leicester paid full price for this miss when Ashley Westwood slotted home his first goal at Turf Moor after Jonny Evans could only partially clear Charlie Taylor's low cross.
The win puts Burnley five points clear of third-bottom Aston Villa.
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Ashley Westwood of Burnley celebrates with Jay Rodriguez and Jeff Hendrick after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Leicester City at Turf Moor on January 19, 2020 in Burnley, United Kingdom.
Image credit: Getty Images
Could Pope snare the England number one shirt?
A fine game from Pope was key to Burnley getting the three points today and, on a more personal level, reminds Gareth Southgate of his qualities ahead of Euro 2020.
He is a certainty to be in the squad and received his second cap playing the full game in the last qualifier in Kosovo.
Jordan Pickford's form has been hot and cold during the season so far and he'll know he has to have a good end to the season to ensure the Clarets stopper doesn't challenge his spot.
Man of the Match - Nick Pope
Dennis Praet and Vardy both were denied from decent efforts in open play by the Burnley goalkeeper and Barnes could also have had a second.
It was the penalty that proved the pivotal moment of the game though and Pope's save ensured he edged Barnes for the best player on the park.
Player ratings
Burnley: Pope 8*, Bardsley 6, Mee 6, Tarkowski 6, Taylor 7, Hendrick 6, Cork 5, Westwood 7, McNeil 6, Rodriguez 6, Wood 6. Subs: Lennon 6.
Leicester: Schmeichel 6, Ricardo 6, Evans 5, Soyuncu 5, Fuchs 6, Mendy 6, Barnes 8, Praet 7, Maddison 6, Perez 6, Vardy 5. Subs: Iheanacho 7, Thielemans 6.
Key Moments
13' Vardy outpaces the centre backs to latch onto a ball from Mendy and pushes the ball past Pope then cuts back to Maddison, but the England midfielder dallies rather than shooting first time and the opportunity is lost.
34' GOAL! Great run and goal by Harvey Barnes. Burnley feel there was a foul in the build-up but Vardy's tackle looked fair, Barnes picked up the ball just inside the Leicester half and raced around the central defenders and shot hard and low, under the keeper.
48' Lovely move from Leicester and only a fine save from Pope denies Praet. Richardo to Maddison to Barnes around the edge of the box and then Praet was played in but the Clarets keeper at full stretch pushes away his left-footed strike.
56' GOAL! Rodriguez forces a corner and Mee leaps to meet the ball at the back post and though Schmeichel saves well Wood scores from close range.
67' PENALTY! Mee struggles to keep up with Barnes in the area and leans into him going to ground and pulling the Leicester winger down with him.
68' SAVED! Pope dives to his left and pushes away Vardy's effort. The rebound is then played to the far post by Perez just beyond the sliding Leicester striker.
77' Iheanacho plays in Vardy but Pope stands tall and pushes away the effort.
79' GOAL! Westwood scores from close range. Taylor puts a low ball into the area and Evans can only half clear at the near post and Westwood slots home from eight yards out.
Key Stats
Jamie Vardy has now missed four penalties, out of 22, in his Leicester career.
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