West Brom surge back to floor Flemming-less Burnley amid transfer speculation

Isaac Price inspired West Bromwich Albion to a 3-1 comeback win against promotion favourites Burnley in the Championship at the Hawthorns. The Northern Ireland international scored twice in the second half after setting up Harry Whitwell’s equaliser to cancel out Callum Styles’s early own goal.

Burnley, without injured star striker Zian Flemming amid intense speculation of a move, failed to match their lofty billing in a disappointing second-half display. Albion continued their 100% start to the season, gaining their third straight win in all competitions and second in the league to lie second in the early table behind Millwall on goal difference.

In a fast and furious start, there were two goals in the first 18 minutes. Styles put into his own net in the eighth minute from Jacob Bruun Larsen’s cross. Albion complained that Hannibal Mejbri fouled Felix Horn Myhre in the buildup some 70 yards away, with several passages of play unfolding before the goal. Styles had to make contact to prevent Oliver Sonne getting the chance but the ball hit his left heel and it flew into the net.

Whitwell equalised on 18 minutes when he slotted home low to Max Weiss’s left from 12 yards for the 20-year-old’s first league goal for Albion. Burnley appeared wrongfooted by Jimmy-Jay Morgan’s flick-on from Price’s cross, before Bashir Humphreys failed to clear. But it was Burnley who went closest to scoring again when Bruun Larsen sidefooted against the foot of the post from Marcus Edwards’s searching cross.

It was a different story after the break. Inspired by Price, Albion produced a dominant second-half performance, with the perfect start. Price put them ahead for the first time, in the 46th minute, curling the ball beyond Weiss, who had strayed five yards off his line, into the far corner. The goal came from a loose ball when Morgan tried to help back Styles’s cross and Hannibal challenged.

Burnley made a triple change in the 57th minute with the arrival of Ugo Raghouber, Zeki Amdouni, and Dastan Satpayev. Amdouni tried to test O’Leary with a rising, curling effort from 20 yards but it flew straight at the Albion keeper.

Instead it was Albion who struck next to effectively seal it, after Humphreys upended Whitwell for a clear penalty. Price made no mistake from the spot, firing low to Weiss’s right with the keeper going the wrong way.