U21S PREVIEW: BURNLEY V CREWE ALEXANDRA

Clarets hope to keep winning mentality

Burnley U21s continue their Professional Development League campaign against Crewe Alexandra on Friday afternoon, with the aim of recording a fifth straight win in all competitions.

Andy Farrell’s team have been going from strength to strength in recent weeks, recording three consecutive league victories before beating a Wrexham reserve side 3-0 in the Central League Cup earlier this week.

Renaldo Torraj wasted no time in breaking the deadlock, finding the bottom left corner 12 minutes in after cutting inside from his flank.

Joe Bevan then doubled the team’s lead a matter of seconds after the halftime interval before Ackeme Francis-Burrell rounded off proceedings with his first Burnley goal in second-half stoppage time.

The result at Airbus UK Broughton FC, which sits close to the English-Welsh border, means the U21s have now confirmed their place in the semi-finals of the competition.

The young Clarets now turn their attention back to the league ahead of what is set to be an exciting finish to the season.

After last week’s 3-1 victory over AFC Bournemouth at Turf Moor the team have 34 points from 19 matches, 10 less than league leaders Birmingham City.

The Midlanders have, however, played five games more, and the Clarets have games in hand on all of the clubs above them.

Focusing on league action, Burnley sit in 6th position on 34 points after their 3-1 win against Bournemouth AFC at Turf Moor.

It’s a different story for Friday’s opponents Crewe Alexandra, who sit bottom of the 11-team North table with 12 points from 19 matches.

These two teams met at the Mornflake Stadium earlier this month and the Clarets came out 4-2 winners, but Crewe were able to take a two-goal lead through Calum Agius’ brace.

Farrell’s halftime team talk seemed to do the trick, however, as right-back Alex Healy-Byrne scored his first Burnley goal to reduce the arrears before 16-year-old Vernon Masara stole the show with a quickfire hat-trick.

Supporters are invited to attend the game at the Burnley Training Centre and get behind the team, with entry to the 1pm kick-off being free.

If you can’t make it, you can follow updates on X @ClaretsAcademy and a report will be published on www.burnleyfootballclub.com post match.