Burnley Under-21s hold Bristol Rovers to 1-1 draw in Scotland
Burnley Under-21s concluded their pre-season preparations with a 1-1 draw against Bristol Rovers at the St Andrews Elite Performance Facility in Scotland. The Clarets opened the scoring against the run of play in the 62nd minute after a number of missed opportunities for the Gas.
Burnley missed a penalty in the 79th minute, and Rovers capitalised on this with Riley Harbottle levelling quickly after to ensure Rovers ended the pre-season tour of Scotland unbeaten.
It was a cagey start, with both teams struggling to create meaningful chances. The first opportunity fell to Bobby Kamwa in the 11th minute, who picked up the ball on the edge of the box and fired a shot straight at the goalkeeper after some good work from Macauley Southam-Hales on the right.
Four minutes later, the Gas went even closer. A long throw from Harbottle was not dealt with by the Clarets, with Ryan De Havilland eventually half-volleying a shot, which deflected off the outside of the right post.
Rovers had further openings midway through the first-half. Mees Rijks flicked a Jack Sparkes cross just wide, Trialist B fired past the right post from a Kamwa cut-back, and Southam-Hales curled a left-footed effort just over.
Luke Southwood made an important low stop just before the break to deny the Clarets' number seven, meaning the teams went in level after a competitive opening 45.
The first big chance of the second half came in the 54th minute. A low cross from Southam-Hales missed Fabrizio Cavegn at the front post, only for Kamwa to drag his shot wide of the left post from point-blank range.
Just after the hour mark, Andy Farrell's side punished Rovers for their missed chances, when a ball on the right wing was threaded into the Clarets' number nine, who slid his right-footed effort under Southwood.
Rovers looked to respond, with Ciarán Kelly, Joe Quigley and Tom James coming on in quick succession. Still, they were unable to break down a resolute Burnley defence, and it was the Under-21s side who should have doubled their advantage in the 79th minute when Tom James gave away a penalty.
Burnley's number three stepped up, though, and blasted the spot-kick well over the bar to give Rovers hope going into the last 10 minutes.
Evans' side took this chance and levelled in the 82nd minute through Harbottle who latched onto a Kofi Balmer long throw, which the Clarets didn't clear.
Rovers' pre-season is now over, and the competitive action starts next week when they host Peterborough United in the Carabao Cup first round.
League standing (final 2025 table -- new season not yet under way): 19th in Premier League, 22 pts, 4W-10D-24L from 38 games, recent form DLDLL. Goals this season: 38 scored, 75 conceded (-37 goal difference). Title race: 63 points behind leaders Arsenal. Last result: Burnley 1-1 Wolves (2026-05-24). Recent form (last 5): 0W-4D-1L (DDDDL, most recent first).
