BURNLEY – 2

PARMA – 0

BURNLEY ended preparations for the new Premier League season as they beat Italian side Parma at Turf Moor.

Jay Rodriguez added to his one on Tuesday night against Nice by scoring the two goals against the Serie A club to give his side the win in their final pre-season fixture before the visit of Southampton.

Nick Pope played the full 90 minutes in goal after Tom Heaton left the club during the week.

In what was a pretty lifeless opening 45 minutes at Turf Moor, the Italians had the first early chances in the game.

Firstly through Yann Karamoh as the Clarets failed to deal with a corner. The ball fell to the winger, but he couldn’t connect well, and Pope gathered easily.

Juraj Kucka then had a chance from a tight angle in the box, which he was unable to steer anywhere but the Jimmy McIlroy stand.

It was clear the Serie A side meant business as they struck the woodwork in the 22nd minute. Troubling from a corner again, Roberto Iglese got to the near post first and his flicked header glances the underside of the bar.

Burnley then showed a bit of class themselves as Pope dummied and played it to Matt Lowton, his long ball over the top to Chris Wood was met first time by the striker.

The New Zealander’s attempt to lift it over Luigi Sepe was met with just a bit much force – would’ve been a lovely goal.

Burnley had to contend with two injuries in the first half as Robbie Brady and Jack Cork were both substituted.

The second half started with the 52 Parma fans in the Cricket field stand making themselves heard and the introduction of Ashley Barnes adding a bit of spice as he went up against veteran Argentinian Bruno Alves.

Thankfully, Rodriguez injected some life in to the game as he gave his side the lead in the 52nd minute. Aaron Lennon got a cross in to the box after standing the two defenders, his cross is deflected, but lands on the head of the Burnley man from a yard out. Four minutes later, Matt Lowton crossed deep from the right hand side and the backtracking Rodriguez was able to guide his head beyond Sepe and into the far corner. As expected, the tempo of the second half dropped throughout, but the Clarets looked dangerous when on the offensive - the two goals by Rodriguez were encouraging signs for Sean Dyche heading in to the new season on next Saturday.

Burnley XI: Nick Pope, Matt Lowton (72' Bardsley), Ben Mee, Ben Gibson (65' Dunne), Charlie Taylor (65' Pieters), Aaron Lennon 65' Gudmundsson), Jack Cork (39’ Westwood), Jeff Hendrick (72' Benson), Robbie Brady (32’ McNeil), Jay Rodriguez (72' Wells), Chris Wood (45' Barnes)

Unused subs: Hart, Legdzins, Vydra

Parma XI: Luigi Sepe, Kastriot Dermaku, Yann Karamoh, Gaston Brugman, Antonino Barilla, Vincent Laurini, Bruno Alves, Riccardo Gagliolo, Juraj Kucka, Dejan Kulusevski, Roberto Inglese (

Subs: Colombi, Alastra, Iacoponi, Machin, Ceravolo, Munari, Scozzarella, Gazzola, Cornelius, Scaglia, Sprcati, Ricci