Burnley vs Aston Villa report: Danny Ings converts late penalty to give Clarets a point

Burnley 1 Aston Villa 1

Aston Villa gave a performance to suggest that the loss of Roy Keane will not deter them in their efforts to climb away from the relegation places but a late penalty from Danny Ings denied them a first win in nine games.

Keane’s departure as assistant manager did not appear to rock the boat as Villa played with a freedom which belied any nervousness over their position in the table.

Joe Cole’s first goal since December seemed to have set them on the way to victory, but Burnley are made of stern stuff these days and made sure they would not lose momentum in their own quest to avoid relegation as Ings capped another impressive performance with a goal that had Turf Moor rocking at the end of a captivating afternoon.

Villa could have done with a smoother build-up to a fixture which has traditionally not been kind to them, with no league win at Turf Moor in 23 attempts stretching back to 1936.

However, their modern-day record would have been more worrying to manager Paul Lambert, who lost Keane just the day before and replaced him on the bench with Scott Marshall, promoted from first-team coach. The former Arsenal defender had worked with Lambert at Wycombe before joining Villa in 2013.

Lambert also made a key change on the field, with Cole getting his first start, and the 33-year-old was behind one of the early chances Villa created in a blistering start.His threaded through-ball gave Gabby Agbonlahor a shooting opportunity which was easily dealt with by keeper Tom Heaton, but Burnley’s goal led a charmed life as Villa twice nearly scored from Ashley Westwood corners.

The first was met by Jores Okore, whose stabbed effort deflected off on-loan Manchester United defender Michael Keane, getting his first start in place of the injured Michael Duff, and was cleared off the line by Dean Marney.

The Burnley midfielder was in the right place again to block a header from Ciaran Clark as Villa, still missing the banned Christian Benteke, struggled to add to their tally of six goals all season – the lowest in the division.

Burnley, seeking a third top-flight win on the trot for the first time since 1975, went close through a Michael Kightly volley, while Ings carried a constant threat.

But Villa finally chalked another one up in the goals-for column when Cole struck, steering the ball home at his near post from Andreas Weimann’s pass which was delivered at just the right time to keep Cole on-side.

Villa were worthy of their lead but Burnley once again showed spirit and determination.

There was no little flair either and Kightly’s superb run deserved a better finish than the one saved by Brad Guzan before Ciaran Clark completed the clearance.

But the home side got stronger and received their reward three minutes from time when Okore pulled down substitute Lukas Jutkiewicz and Ings drove in the resultant penalty to give him his fourth goal in five games. Ings struck the post in stoppage time from a great chance to win it.

Burnley: (4-4-2) Heaton; Trippier, Keane, Shackell, Ward; Kightly (65), Marney, Jones (Wallace 84), Boyd; Ings, Barnes (Jutkiewicz 65).

Aston Villa: (4-2-3-1) Guzan; Hutton, Okore, Clark, Cissokho; Westwood, Sanchez; Weiman (Richardson 78), Cole (Grealish 67), Cleverley; Agbonlahor.

Referee: Graham Scott.

Man of the match: Ings (Burnley).

Match rating: 8/10