EPL: Burnley snatch late draw against 10-men Chelsea
Burnley striker Zian Flemming pounced in stoppage time to snatch a 1-1 draw against 10-man Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Flemming headed in from a James Ward‑Prowse corner in the 93rd
Burnley striker Zian Flemming pounced in stoppage time to snatch a 1-1 draw against 10-man Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Flemming headed in from a James Ward‑Prowse corner in the 93rd minute after Chelsea had lost control of the match following Wesley Fofana's dismissal.
The hosts had dominated until the defender's 72nd‑minute second yellow card for a tackle on Ward‑Prowse, having taken the lead through Joao Pedro in the fourth minute.
But there will be an inquest, as Chelsea have dropped a league‑high 17 points from winning positions at home this season. They also have six red cards - more than any other team in the Premier League and eight in all competitions.
It looked as though it would be plain sailing for Chelsea after Joao Pedro bundled in Pedro Neto's cross from close range in the fourth minute.
Cole Palmer nearly capitalised on a mistake by Kyle Walker on the halfway line but failed to lift his shot over Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, with two further efforts in the half also blocked.
Burnley's only real chance in the first half came when Lesley Ugochukwu volleyed over from a corner awarded under a new rule which penalised Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez for holding on to the ball for more than eight seconds.
After the interval, Joao Pedro had another effort blocked by former Chelsea defender Bashir Humphreys before heading over from a corner in the 66th minute.
Burnley had not registered a second-half shot before Fofana received a second yellow card in the 72nd minute, having been earlier booked for a late challenge on Hannibal Mejbri.
Four minutes later, Josh Laurent forced a save from Sanchez, as Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior brought on defenders, while Scott Parker introduced attackers in search of an equaliser.
Flemming was unmarked when he headed his dramatic leveller, and substitute Jacob Bruun Larsen missed a similar chance minutes later, with Chelsea supporters booing their team off after the final whistle.
Chelsea move up to fourth in the Premier League table, having played a game more than Manchester United, but fail to close the gap on Aston Villa who drew against Leeds. Burnley remain second bottom, eight points adrift of safety.
BBC
