Burnley 0 Swansea 1: Leroy Fer spoils Burnley’s return to the top flight with late winner
In a poor match, the Clarets were on the back foot for much of the match with new Swansea signing Fernando Llorente impressing
LEROY FER spoiled Sean Dyche's Burnley's return to the top flight with a late winner in a drab match.
Burnley played the same starting XI that saw them become Championship champions last season, with new signing Johann Berg Gudmundsson on the bench, while fellow Icelandic international Gylfi Sigurdsson was also benched for Swansea, having only been back in training for a week.
Spanish international Fernando Llorente did start for Francesco Guidolin's visiting Swans and had a number of chances during the match as winger Mo Barrow caused havoc - but could not beat Tom Heaton in the Clarets' goal.
After Federico Fernandez missed a sitter from a couple of yards out, Leror Fer did not do the same, tapping in on 82 minutes after Llorente's header was saved by Heaton - and while Burnley had some late pressure and Lucasz Fabianski made a great late save from Dean Marney, they could not score.
FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS
- Burnley celebrated their return to the Premier League by opening a new superstore – three times the size of the old one.
- Fans queued for photos in front of a Sky poster, showing claret and blue ribbons on the Premier League trophy.
- George Boyd’s much-improved pony-tail was greeted with chants of: “Hey there Georgie Girl” Pity it didn’t catch on
- Sean Dyche was furious when Mo Barrow escaped a booking for an early dive. But he saw yellow for the same offence minutes later.
- Early contender for miss of the season. Federico Fernandez lifted the ball over the bar barely a yard from goal, before he was rescued by Fer in the 84th minute with the only goal of the game.
- Lucas Fabianski deserved praise for wearing “sensible” dark boots, the only player on the pitch without fluorescent footwear.
- Sam Vokes must have felt at home after starring for Wales at Euro 2016. Swansea fans draped seven Welsh flags behind one goal.
- Swansea will miss Ashley Williams’ calming influence. Jordi Amat and Federico Fernandez are bruisers, not ball-players.
- Burnley’s midfielders will all run until they drop, but they need to find a creative talent.
- Swansea dodged a bullet at Turf Moor. Burnley had scored in 17 of their last 18 opening day matches.
WHAT THEY SAID