Burnley squandered a two-goal lead for the third time in its last four games, conceding twice from corners in a 2-2 draw with fellow relegation candidate West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. All four goals in a lively match at Turf Moor came from headers, with in-demand striker Danny Ings setting up Ashley Barnes for Burnley’s opener in the 11th minute before scoring himself in the 32nd.
Chris Brunt, who had the captain’s armband taken from him and given to new signing Darren Fletcher, bundled in a left-wing corner in first-half injury time to bring West Brom back into the game. Nigeria striker Brown Ideye completed the recovery in the 67th, taking advantage of more slack marking to head in another corner for his second league goal since joining last summer for 10 million pounds (now $15.2 million) from Dynamo Kiev.
It could have been even worse for the hosts, with defender Ben Mee clearing Saido Berahino’s shot off the line in the 87th minute. Burnley climbed out of the relegation zone, above Hull City, while West Bromwich Albion is three points clear of the bottom three. Burnley lost 3-2 to Crystal Palace in its last home league game, having gone 2-0 ahead. Three days earlier, Sean Dyche’s side scored twice in the first seven minutes against Tottenham in an FA Cup replay, and lost 4-2.
“It’s just a lack of concentration from set pieces that we need to improve on,” said Danny Ings, who was the subject of interest from liverpool in the winter transfer window that closed on Monday. “In this league you can’t get away with that and we were punished for it.”
Stoke draw Newcastle 1-1
Newcastle: Substitute Peter Crouch headed in a 90th-minute equalizer for Stoke in a 1-1 draw at Newcastle in a Premier league match between two mid-table teams on Sunday. Stoke threw on the former England striker after Jack Colback gave Newcastle the lead in the 74th, driving home a shot from the edge of the area from Moussa Sissoko’s lay-off.
Only seconds were remaining in normal time when United States international Geoff Cameron sent in a deep cross from the right wing, which Crouch met with a looping header. The result ended a run of three straight wins for Stoke, although Crouch’s late intervention keeps the team in 10th place — two points and a place ahead of Newcastle.
Juventus beat Milan 3-1
Milan: Juventus beat fierce rival AC Milan 3-1 to move 10 points clear at the top of Serie A on Saturday as coach Massimiliano Allegri gained more revenge on his old club. It was Allegri’s second consecutive win against Milan, which sacked him little more than a year ago. Carlos Tevez opened the scoring in the 14th minute, and although luca Antonelli leveled in his first match back at Milan, leonardo Bonucci restored Juve’s advantage moments later. Alvaro Morata sealed the result in the 65th for Juventus.