Light fails but Burnley lights up to beat Sunderland
Sunderland was handed a reality check as Burnley got its Premier League campaign up and running with a 2-0 win at Turf Moor.
The floodlights failed at one stage in the second half of the match, but Scott Parker's Clarets nevertheless shone bright.
While Sunderland claimed a 3-0 win over West Ham United in its first Premier League game since 2017 last week, Burnley was dispatched by the same scoreline away at Tottenham Hotspur.
But after seeing Lyle Foster have a goal disallowed in the first half, Burnley ultimately cruised to the points thanks to efforts from Josh Cullen and Jaidon Anthony after the interval.
Captain Cullen curled in a 47th-minute opener before supplying a wonderful assist for Anthony to make sure of the points late on.
It took until October last season for one of the promoted clubs to win a league game, but all three this eason have now got three points on the board by week two.
Burnley, which has never lost to Sunderland at home in the Premier League, came into the season off the back of a 100-point promotion-winning season, and Parker was quick to highlight the importance of getting an early win on the board.
"This is a massive three points for us in the Premier League,” he said.
"You need three points in the Premier League. It’s humongous for us and to get three points on the board and within the second game, a game at home as well, I’m delighted. I’m really happy.
“I’m absolutely buzzing, first and foremost, for the players and for the fans and everyone involved.
"I thought we were brilliant today. I thought was everything we were going to need to be.
"I asked the lads today to show a real endeavour, to show an impetus, let’s get these supporters right behind us.
"And I thought we did that. I thought we were well worthy of the three points."
Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris felt his team simply came down on the wrong side of some fine margins.
"I’m disappointed because I think we started well, our first half was positive, created two chances, we were on our game plan, and we dominated," he said.
"But the beginning of the second half, we made this small mistake and conceded the goal, and after that, the game changed completely.
"It’s fine margins and if you score early, because it was possible today, I think the scenario [would have] changed completely for us."
