Burnley frustrate Chelsea

London, April 23

Chelsea accused Burnley of time wasting and playing “anti-football” after Blues boss Maurizio Sarri was sent off before a touchline skirmish marred their frustrating 2-2 draw on Monday.

Sarri’s side fell behind to Jeff Hendrick’s fine finish before N’Golo Kante equalised moments later.

In a frantic opening 24 minutes at Stamford Bridge, Gonzalo Higuain put Chelsea ahead, only for Burnley’s Ashley Barnes to punish more dismal defending from the home side. Winless in their last two league games, Chelsea will take only slender comfort from leapfrogging fifth placed Arsenal into fourth place, level on points with third placed Tottenham.

It was a great chance for Chelsea to go third with a victory as top-four rivals Tottenham, Arsenal and United all were humbled this weekend, but instead they have now played a game more.

Sarri was sent to the stands for protesting in the final seconds before several members of the Blues bench were involved in a tetchy touchline clash with their Burnley counterparts. Sarri’s assistant Gianfranco Zola said his boss was so “emotional” after the game that he couldn’t fulfil his media duties. “He was very upset because he heard not good words towards him from the Burnley bench. The only reason he walked over there was to get our players to go into position,”  Zola said. — AFP