Burnley’s hopes of boosting their Premier League survival took a hit as they were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Wolves at Turf Moor, with controversy surrounding the referee’s decision.
The hosts took the lead in the first half through Jacob Bruun Larsen’s well-taken goal, but Wolves equalized just before halftime when Rayan Ait-Nouri headed in a free-kick.
Burnley manager Vincent Kompany criticized the decision to award the free-kick, suggesting that there was minimal contact between the players involved. Kompany expressed frustration, stating, “It’s absolutely clear it’s not a foul… [The referee] was in the best position.”
The draw leaves Burnley in 19th place, six points adrift of safety, following Nottingham Forest’s win over Fulham. It was a missed opportunity for Burnley to close the gap on relegation rivals, and they now face an uphill battle to secure their Premier League status.
Despite dominating spells of the game and creating chances to regain the lead, Burnley failed to find a winner. Substitute Jay Rodriguez had a late effort ruled out for offside, adding to their frustration.
Wolves, meanwhile, missed several chances to take the lead earlier in the game but will be pleased to have extended their unbeaten run. They will welcome the return of Matheus Cunha, who made his first appearance since February after recovering from injury.
However, the match was not without its off-field drama, as supporters were evacuated from a section of the Jimmy McIlroy Stand due to safety concerns about the stadium’s roof. Despite the disruption, the match continued unaffected.