Zian Flemming rescued Burnley a last-gasp equaliser as they took a point from 10-man Chelsea.
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Under-fire Burnley boss Scott Parker defends his record as he comes under increa...](https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/football/under-fire-burnley-boss-scott-parker-defends-his-record-as-he-comes-under-increasing-scrutiny-5605042 "Under-fire Burnley boss Scott Parker defends his record as he comes under increasing scrutiny")
The Clarets looked to be heading for a narrow defeat at Stamford Bridge following Joao Pedro’s fourth-minute effort.
But Scott Parker’s side did well to stay in the game before gradually working their way into some promising positions.
With 18 minutes left, they were gifted a huge lifeline when Wesley Fofana was dismissed for a second yellow card.
And Burnley took full advantage three minutes into injury time when Flemming met James Ward-Prowse’s delicious corner to head home.
The visitors even had a chance to win it right at the death, when Ashley Barnes failed to hit the target from another trademark Ward-Prowse delivery.
With Burnley’s relegation rivals not in action until later in the weekend, they now find themselves eight points adrift of safety.
The Clarets celebrate Zian Flemming's last-gasp equaliser (Photo by Jasper Wax/Getty Images)placeholder image
The Clarets celebrate Zian Flemming's last-gasp equaliser (Photo by Jasper Wax/Getty Images)
Burnley reverted to the side that came from behind to beat Crystal Palace in their last outing, disregarding the team that oversaw an FA Cup humbling at the hands of Mansfield Town.
Lyle Foster was absent from the Burnley squad through illness, meaning Quilindschy Hartman returned to the Burnley bench after a rare start in the cup last time out.
Jordan Beyer, Azel Tuanzebe, Connor Roberts, Josh Cullen, Mike Tresor, Zeki Amdouni and Armando Broja all remain sidelined.
As for Chelsea, Liam Rosenior made three changes to the side that drew 2-2 with Leeds United in their last outing. Marc Cucurella and Estevao were among those to miss out through injury.
Burnley’s resistance lasted all of four minutes, with Chelsea taking an early lead with the simplest of goals.
The Clarets were played through alarmingly easily, resulting in Pedro Neto being set free down the left - allowing the winger to play a simple ball across for Joao Pedro to just about steer home. The goal was allowed to stand despite a VAR check for a possible handball.
To Burnley’s credit, they responded well and almost levelled just three minutes later when Lesley Ugochukwu lashed wide after Jaidon Anthony’s corner had fallen to him at the back post.
The Clarets actually won the corner after Robert Sanchez had taken too long to release the ball after claiming Hannibal’s curling effort.
The visitors could easily have found themselves going two down inside the opening 12 minutes, but Kyle Walker made an important block to deny Cole Palmer as he roamed into the Burnley box.
Palmer tried his luck again, this time from range, but on this occasion Maxime Esteve got his head in the way to protect the Burnley goal.
Despite Chelsea’s lead, they weren’t particularly convincing, with Burnley almost forcing a couple of errors deep in enemy territory as the Blues attempted to play out from the back.
The Clarets slowly but surely began to grow into the game and almost found a way through when the increasingly influential Anthony looked to play in Zian Flemming, but both the pass and touch let Burnley down.
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The visitors then had the chance to get a shot off at goal when they were awarded a free-kick in a central position 25 yards from goal, but Marcus Edwards’ curling effort was a weak one, dropping harmlessly wide.
While Burnley were on top, they were incredibly lucky to remain only a goal down when Walker was punished for a sloppy control as the last man.
He looked to take the ball down on his thigh as Chelsea punted a long ball forward, but he got it all wrong, allowing Palmer to breeze through on goal. But fortunately for Burnley, he decided to take his effort early and Martin Dubravka was able to make the save.
Nevertheless, Burnley were still playing well and came close to forcing an equaliser late in the half when the ball almost dropped for Anthony inside the box, before Hannibal looped a volley straight at Sanchez.
Burnley made one change at the interval, as Lucas Pires came into the side in place of Kyle Walker. With Bashir Humphreys, a left footer, forced over to the right hand side of the back three, this appeared to be an injury-related issue, rather than tactical.
Within seconds of the restart Chelsea came close to a second as they opened up the Clarets, but Joe Worrall made an excellent last-ditch block to deny Palmer.
Worrall later combined with centre back partner Esteve to make another block as Chelsea piled on the pressure at the start of the second period.
Burnley were given a lifeline in the 72nd minute when Wesley Fofana was shown a second card and sent off for a foul on Burnley sub James Ward-Prowse.
Rosenior reacted to the dismissal by bringing off Palmer for a defender in Tosin and it resulted in some Burnley pressure, as Josh Laurent saw a relatively close-range effort deflect kindly into the arms of Sanchez.
Ashley Barnes was Parker’s last throw of the dice off the bench, coming on with seven minutes remaining alongside Loum Tchaouna.
Burnley produced plenty of pressure during the final stages, but clear-cut chances were in short supply.
The away side were given six minutes of stoppage time to find an equaliser and halfway through, they found it.
Ward-Prowse was the creator, producing a delicious corner that was perfectly met by Zian Flemming to head home into the far corner - sparking wild scenes of celebrations.
The Clarets smelt three points and they almost got them too, as Barnes headed narrowly over from another exceptional Ward-Prowse cross.
TEAMS
Chelsea: Sanchez, James (Acheampong), Fofana, Chalobah, Gusto (Hato), Caicedo, Santos, Enzo, Palmer (Tosin), Neto (Sarr), Pedro (Delap)
Subs not used: Slonina, Lavia, Garnacho, Guiu
Burnley: Dubravka, Laurent (Bruun Larsen), Walker (Pires), Worrall, Esteve, Humphreys (Tchaouna), Ugochukwu (Ward-Prowse), Hannibal, Edwards, Anthony (Barnes), Flemming
Subs not used: Weiss, Ekdal, Hartman, Florentino
Referee: Lewis Smith
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