‘I don’t like this side of me’: Burnley boss slams ‘ridiculous’ call in draw with relegation rival

Carlton Morris scored a controversial stoppage-time equaliser as Luton salvaged a 1-1 draw in their crucial clash with relegation rivals Burnley.

Zeke Amdouni netted late in the first half at Turf Moor to give Burnley the lead, but Morris headed Luton level in the closing minutes.

Burnley were furious Morris’s goal was allowed to stand after a VAR check as Luton’s Elijah Adebayo appeared to deliberately block Clarets keeper James Trafford as he tried to catch Alfie Doughty’s cross.

Trafford was booked for his protest after the goal was allowed to stand, with Luton’s celebrations underlining their relief at avoiding defeat against their fellow strugglers in such dramatic fashion.

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Burnley boss Vincent Kompany had plenty to say about the decision post-game, declaring a call like it “can’t decide a game”.

“[My view is the same as] everyone’s view,” Kompany told BBC Sport.

“My view is the same as anyone who has played the game. Fair play to the striker, he tries his luck, he blocks the goalkeeper. He has a look, blocks him, looks across to the referee and you think surely not. VAR will sort this out. Luton players are not celebrating.

“It’s quiet. Everyone is ready to move on with the game and then he gives it.

“Look if the consistency is everyone can do it, it’s fine. If we’re not giving fouls for us, that’s fine. Crack on and I have another message to give my players.

“But we’ve had the softest penalty given against us against Aston Villa after two soft yellow cards that cost us a red card. I always tell my players careful with that, we can’t blame the refs. But I haven’t got a story. I don’t know what to say to my players. It’s ridiculous.

“Against Forest we had a goal disallowed we got an apology for. It keeps happening. It’s incredible. It’ll balance off I hope.

“This can’t decide a game. Something done by a bit of magic but not this. Not this.

“We’ll get up and we’ll keep going. It’s not even in my nature to complain about this. I don’t like this side of me. I told the lads I don’t know what to tell you. It’s bizarre.”

Burnley defender Dara O’Shea was also struggling to understand the call when interviewed at fulltime.

“I can’t get my head around the decision,” O’Shea said post-game.

“None of us quite understand it and we don’t get any information on the pitch.

“We’re bitterly disappointed with the result. We defended very well.

“Keep going back to that decision and I just can’t understand it.”

“Elijah Adebayo does not go for the ball, it has to be a foul,” added former England defender Rio Ferdinand on TNT Sports.

Luton manager Rob Edwards, meanwhile, told TNT Sports he thought it was a goal but added he felt for Kompany.

“I think Elijah Adebayo gets shoved into James Trafford, it is a goal — it is one of those,” he told TNT Sports.

“In the end emotions are high and it is difficult to speak about it and maybe I can be a bit fair. That is a big moment in the game and we deserved that. I do feel for Vinny [Kompany] and if it is a foul I will be honest.”

Luton remain third bottom, behind fourth bottom Everton on goal difference, while Burnley are second bottom and four points from safety.

It was a devastating blow for Kompany’s men, who were just seconds away from only their fourth win this term in a battle between two clubs promoted from the Championship last season and fighting to preserve their top-flight status.

The game was meant to be played next Tuesday, but Luton’s FA Cup third round replay against Bolton saw it had moved to Saturday with only five days’ notice, a switch that added extra tension to an already fraught encounter.

Beaten in their previous three matches, Burnley had managed only 20 goals in their first 20 games this season, a woeful lack of cutting edge that threatened their top-flight status.

Their profligacy showed no signs of ending when Johann Gudmundsson sprinted clean through on goal, only to shoot straight at Luton keeper Thomas Kaminski.

Luton tried to make the most of that early escape as Chiedozie Ogbene picked out Ross Barkley, whose curler forced a fine save from Trafford.

Ogbene tested Trafford himself, cutting inside for a powerful strike that almost went in at the near post.

Chelsea striker David Fofana was watching in the stands ahead of a reported loan move to Burnley after recently cutting short his temporary spell at Union Berlin.

The need for a clinical finisher was apparent when Wilson Odobert completely miskicked when the ball fell to him in the Luton area.

But Kompany’s men finally showed they know where the goal is, with the help of a little good luck in the 36th minute.

Odobert’s step-over bought him room for a cross that fortuitously deflected into the path of Amdouni, whose shot hit Gudmundsson on the line before going in.

Ogbene wasted a good chance to equalise after the interval, shooting straight at Trafford from Barkley’s pass.

Rising to meet Andros Townsend’s cross, Ogbene’s header was tipped over by Trafford moments later.

But Luton kept pressing and they were rewarded in debatable fashion when Morris nodded home from 10 yards after Adebayo’s block sent Trafford sprawling.