Rowswell's maiden PL2 strike secures point for Under-21s at Burnley

James Rowswell scored his first-ever Premier League 2 goal on Friday night to see us earn a 1-1 draw on the road at Burnley.

In our first-ever meeting with the Clarets in the competition, we fell behind after a bright start from our hosts with Zach Johnson tucking in from close range 17 minutes in.

However, we responded with purpose and had a well-deserved equaliser 18 minutes later with Rowswell in the right place at the right time to slam home his fifth of the campaign (four in the UEFA Youth League), but first in the PL2.

There were few clear-cut opportunities in the second half and, in truth, little to separate the sides come full time but the point continues our impressive run on the road - we have now lost just one of our six away outings this season, winning three and drawing two.

There was a piece of really positive news ahead of kick-off as Maeson King was named in the starting XI for the first time since April, going on to play 68 minutes to mark his return from a long injury lay-off.

In our first outing of 2026, it was Burnley who started brightest at the Lancashire FA's County Ground. Well-disciplined in their pressing, they forced errors, were a threat in the final third - creating a number of good chances - and duly deserved their lead with just 16 minutes gone.

After we partially cleared a long throw from the left, the hosts recycled it well before moving it out to the left and crossing first time. Catching us cold, the whipped ball found its way to Johnson who, after being denied spectacularly by an acrobatic block from the returning King, made no mistake with the rebound.

After that setback though, we responded brilliantly and began to assert ourselves on the game, albeit not really being able to test goalkeeper Charlie Casper. That was until the 35^th minute though as, when the Clarets failed to clear their lines with any conviction, we bombarded the box and got a slice of luck as an attempted clearance fell to Rowswell and he slammed home.

After the break, our bright play continued and we came very close to turning the game on its head. Just seven minutes after the restart, neat interplay in our forward line ended with Reiss Russell-Denny teeing up Luca Williams-Barnett to strike first time from the edge of the box, but the versatile attacker was denied by a brilliant diving save from Casper.

Frustratingly, that was perhaps our best chance of the second 45 minutes as the game as a whole lacked any fluidity or rhythm.

Burnley were resolute at the back and found a way back to their early tenacity which had served them so well, while we couldn't quite find that crucial final ball. The hosts, meanwhile, were a threat on the break and were twice denied by the crossbar - the first a 40-yard effort from Tom Tweedy before Charlie Veevers curled onto the bar direct from a corner. In the middle of that, Johnson had the chance to win it for the Clarets, but he dragged wide of the frame from close range with eight minutes to play.

The point moves us up into the league's top seven with a trip to Stoke City next up on Friday 23 January (kick-off 7pm).

Match data

Goals: Burnley - Johnson 17; Spurs - Rowswell 35.

Yellow cards: Burnley - Brierley 57. Spurs - T. Thompson 87.

Referee: Dean Watson.

Venue: Lancashire FA County Ground, Leyland.

Weather: Clear skies, dry, six degrees.