CHELSEA - 2

BURNLEY - 2

BURNLEY came away from West London with a fantastic point as they held Chelsea to a 2-2 draw - the Clarets are now nine points clear of Cardiff City with three games to play.

Jeff Hendrick volleyed Burnley in to the lead and then goals from N’Golo Kante and Gonzalo Higuain fired the hosts in front.

Ashley Barnes capped off a crazy opening 16 minutes as he drew Sean Dyche’s men level.

The game started with Chelsea controlling proceedings and Burnley had every man in their own half to halt the home side.

With their first attack of the game, Dwight McNeil’s corner was headed to Hendrick on the edge of the box and the unmarked Irishman, in acres of space, volleyed beyond Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal.

It didn’t take Chelsea long to draw level. Eden Hazard was twisting and turning with the ball inside the area and he played it to Kante - his left-footed strike flew past Tom Heaton in the Burnley goal.

Two minutes later, Higuain’s nice turn was met by an even better back heel by Cesar Azpilicueta to put the Argentine in on goals.

The AC Milan loanee thundered the ball in off the underside of the bar to give his side the lead in the opening 15 minutes.

Barnes’ seventh goal in 12 games drew his side level after a well worked free-kick by Ashley Westwood found Ben Mee at the far post.

The defender’s header was then met by an unmarked Barnes as he slotted past Kepa.

After the end-to-end action of the first half, the second was much more subdued as Chelsea struggled to break down the back line of Burnley.

Five minutes in to the second half, Chris Wood had his best chance of the game so far as the Burnley midfield won the ball high up the pitch and the loose ball found its way to Barnes.

He played Wood in, but the Kiwi internationals touch was poor.

The second half started with Chelsea on the attack, as expected, with Maurizio Sarri’s side looking to move up to third place.

Burnley’s defence stood firm, with Ben Men and James Tarkowski marshalling it well.

Azplilicueta had one of the best chances of the half as his shot from in the area was palmed away well by Heaton.

David Luiz tried his luck from 30-yards out with 15 minutes remaining, but Heaton gathered easily once again.

The home crowd were getting frustrated as Matteo Kovacic’s ball in was met at the back post by Ruben Loftus-Cheek - the England midfielder’s cross evaded everyone in the area.

Burnley had settled on a well earned point at the Bridge and were camped inside their own half for the final 10 minutes. 

Burnley: Tom Heaton; Matt Lowton, Ben Mee, James Tarkowski, Charlie Taylor; Jeff Hendrick, Jack Cork, Ashley Westwood, Dwight McNeil; Ashley Barnes, Chris Wood

Unused subs: Hart, Gibson, Ward, Long, Gudmundsson, Vydra, Brady

Chelsea: Kepa Arrizabalaga; Cesar Azpilicueta, Andreas Christensen, David Luiz, Emerson; Jorginho, N’Golo Kante (45’ Kovacic), Ruben Loftus-Cheek; Callum Hudson-Odoi (40’ Pedro), Eden Hazard, Gonzalo Higuain (76’ Giroud)

Unused subs: Caballero, Cahill, Zappacosta, Barkley