Burnley 4-0 Bournemouth: Report, Ratings & Reaction as Clarets Record Their First Win

Burnley were looking for their first three points of the season to lift them off the bottom of the table and they delivered just that. It wasn't always pretty as the two sides locked horns in what was largely a dour clash of styles. 

It was ​Bournemouth who actually started the brighter and looked to be asking some serious questions of Burnley. Barring a fortuitous strike against the crossbar though, the Cherries were unable to trouble a resolute defence. 

As Burnley began to threaten flaws were exposed in the Bournemouth backline as they twice failed to clear the ball before Matej Vydra latched onto it to put his side ahead against the run of play. The Cherries were shellshocked just two minutes later when Aaron Lennon added a second with his first goal for the club.  

Bournemouth continued to look the more likely to score second half but just couldn't put the ball away. There was a big shout for a foul as Ashley Barnes wrapped up the points with a third goal for Sean Dyche's side. It was another quick double with Barnes completing his brace five minutes later to round off a rout for Burnley.

BURNLEY

Key Talking Point

Dyche will have little qualms tonight and can breathe a huge sigh of relief as his side got up and running in style. Clinical finishing and some clever positioning were the order of the day for Burnley as they made their chances look easy.  

There's still room for improvement as Burnley were second best for large spells they were second best on the pitch. They dropped too deep at times allowing their opponents too much space which they were lucky not to be punished for. Bournemouth dominated the possession and found some good space but could not take advantage of their opportunities.

The Clarets need to be a little more proactive going forwards if they are to come anywhere near the heights of last season but Barnes' late brace will offer hope they can do that. 

Player Ratings

Starting XI: Hart (7), Lowton (6), Tarkowski (5), Mee (8), Taylor (6), Lennon (8), Westwood (9), Cork (6), Gudmundsson (8), Vydra (8), Vokes (7)

Substitutes: Wood (7), Barnes (9)

WORST PLAYER - It's strange to single out a defender after keeping a clean sheet but that was the weakest area of the pitch for Burnley. Their opponents will be kicking themselves for not being able to capitalise on the space they were afforded at times. It's the usually steady James Tarkowski who takes the unfortunate honour of being the weakest player in the back four, being bailed out by Nathan Ake on more than one occasion. 

---

BOURNEMOUTH

Key Talking Point

For Bournemouth, it will be a case of what if, they finish the game with nearly twice as much possession and having had 19 shots on goal but on the wrong end of a 4-0 scoreline. They looked good in all manner of the word except for the final ball which was lacking for the Cherries all afternoon. 

Burnley made great use of the attacking opportunities they had scoring four out of five shots on target which tells a bitter tale for Eddie Howe. There was not enough guile from his side today, no matter how much he shuffled his attacking options they just couldn't pick out the killer pass.

This was a game that was there for the taking for Bournemouth so that scoreline will come as a huge blow. There was enough positives to suggest this was just a bad day at the office for Howe's men and they probably shouldn't read too much into it other than that. 

---

Player Ratings

Starting XI: Begovic (4), Rico Salguero (4), Ake (6), Cook (5), Smith (5), Fraser (7), Lerma (7), Surman (5), Brooks (8), Wilson (7), King (5)

Substitutes: Francis (6), Stanislas (7), Defoe (7)

---

STARMAN - Bournemouth starlet David Brooks was a real shining light for them on an otherwise gloomy day. The 21-year-old was excellent in his wide position, constantly surging forward with the ball he created no end of problems for Burnley. It was only his fourth professional appearance for the club but he looks to have a bright future on the south coast. 

WORST PLAYER - Rico Salguero highlighted everything that was wrong with the Bournemouth performance today. He looked very positive in the opening stages of the game breaking down the flank and supporting the attack. He was very wasteful with his attacking positions though, failing to deliver a single good cross or shot. Worse still as a full-back, he was often caught high up the field which created problems for the centre-halves. Removed at half-time probably tells the whole story of his game. 

---

Looking Ahead

Burnley will take a lot of positives from today's game and they need to carry that positivity forwards after a woeful start to the season. They were one of the surprise packages of last season but that crown hangs heavy now. Don't expect them to replicate that seventh place finish but they are good enough to survive relegation and that should be the target.

For Bournemouth it's a day to forget, nothing came off for them today but they have talent in their ranks and that was apparent. A quick turnaround and three points next week would be ideal to shake off the stigma of this scoreline. 

Source: 90min