Bristol City winger Jed Wallace has delivered a stark assessment of Burnley's dramatic decline, telling the BBC that the current side is 'night and day' from the team that dominated the Championship just over three years ago. His comments follow a 2-1 victory for Bristol City at Turf Moor on Saturday, a result that leaves Burnley second from bottom in the league with just three points from six games.
What did Jed Wallace say about Burnley?
Speaking on the BBC's 72+ podcast, Wallace contrasted his latest visit with his previous trip to Turf Moor in January 2023, when he played for West Bromwich Albion against Vincent Kompany's title-bound Burnley. "It's night and day from the last time I went there with West Brom under Carlos Corberan when they had Vincent Kompany," Wallace said. He described that earlier match as "a proper game of football against one of the best teams I've probably ever played in the Championship." This time, he felt Burnley lacked a clear plan, stating they "haven't really clicked yet" and don't seem to have a "clear idea of what they were doing."
How did the match against Bristol City unfold?
The decisive moment came deep into stoppage time. Wallace, now 32, conceded a foul on the edge of the box in the 91st minute. His current Bristol City teammate, Scott Twine, stepped up to curl the resulting free-kick into the top corner for the winner. Wallace noted the irony, saying, "I made a foul on the edge of the box in the 91st minute and then Mr Twine, who I'm now playing with, obviously inevitably stuck it in the top corner." The defeat extended Burnley's winless start under new manager Nicky Hayen, who is yet to secure a league victory since taking charge.
Why does Wallace think Burnley are struggling?
Wallace pointed to a complete overhaul at the club over the past two to three years as the root cause. He cited the new manager, a new style of play, and a raft of new players as factors preventing the team from gelling. This churn is reflected in the current standings, where Burnley sit 23rd, already ten points adrift of league leaders West Brom. The team has conceded 13 goals while scoring only seven, giving them the second-worst goal difference in the division at minus six. Their recent form reads as a concerning sequence of draws and losses: DLDLL.
What is the current situation at Burnley?
The club is handle a difficult period with several key players unavailable. The current injuries list includes experienced forward Ashley Barnes and defender Jordan Beyer, whose absences are being felt. Manager Nicky Hayen faces a quick turnaround to address these issues, with a tough away fixture against third-placed Swansea City coming up on September 12. The challenge is immense for a squad that, as Wallace observed, is still searching for its identity after the highs of the 2022-23 season, when they amassed 101 points to win the Championship before suffering Premier League relegation.
Could a veteran striker like Jamie Vardy help?
When asked about potential signings, Wallace endorsed the idea of Burnley bringing in 39-year-old striker Jamie Vardy. He believes the former Leicester City forward would be a "great signing" who could bring much-needed aggression to the group. Whether the club pursues such a move is not yet clear, but the immediate focus is on halting the slide. The next opportunity comes at Swansea, a game you can find on the club's fixtures schedule, where Burnley desperately needs a result to kickstart their season.
