Burnley Vs Brentford — Damsgaard stuns Turf Moor as VAR drama denies Clarets

At Turf Moor, burnley vs brentford produced a seven-goal thriller as Mikkel Damsgaard's stoppage-time strike gave Brentford a 4-3 victory after Burnley fought back from 3-0 down. The result strengthens Brentford's push for European football while leaving relegation-threatened Burnley still in the bottom three.

Stoppage drama: Damsgaard winner and disallowed Barnes goal

Mikkel Damsgaard struck a dramatic 93rd-minute winner from a Rico Henry cross to make it 4-3 and seal victory for Brentford. There was one final twist when Ashley Barnes thought he had salvaged a point with what felt like a last-gasp equaliser, but that 99th-minute goal was ruled out after a lengthy video assistant referee check for an accidental handball in the build-up.

Early control for Brentford as Damsgaard, Igor Thiago and Schade score inside 34 minutes

The visitors looked to be heading for a comfortable win after goals from Mikkel Damsgaard, Igor Thiago and Kevin Schade put Brentford 3-0 up inside the first 34 minutes. Facing that deficit and hostility from their own fans, Burnley laboured through a woeful first half before mounting their comeback.

How the fightback began: Kayode own goal, Anthony strike and Flemming header

Jaidon Anthony initiated the revival late in the first half when his driven cross was turned into his own goal by Michael Kayode in the dying seconds of the opening period. Less than two minutes after the restart another Anthony strike was helped on its way into the net by Kayode, and Zian Flemming then restored parity with a powered header past Brentford goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson in the 60th minute, lifting the second-from-bottom Clarets and turning half-time boos into renewed belief.

Disallowed Burnley goals and VAR controversy

The hosts believed they had taken the lead when Flemming bundled home in the 78th minute, but the goal was ruled out for offside by the VAR. That decision was described in match coverage as denying Burnley one of the greatest comebacks; the fourth goal was ruled out after Jaidon Anthony was adjudged to be a shoulder-width offside. After Damsgaard's winner, Ashley Barnes' late strike was also chalked off following a long delay and a VAR review for handball.

Managers, fans and the wider stakes — Parker, Andrews and the table

Burnley manager Scott Parker said he was sad and disappointed by the video assistant referee controversy, saying: "Maybe a little bit of injustice. I’ve not watched it back. I saw it on the big screen and I was thinking it looks like his hand is beside his side. It looks so, so harsh. " Parker added: "We’ve gone and scored five goals in the space of 60 minutes, which is quite incredible. " He also reflected on the atmosphere, noting boos, jeering and chants against him and Burnley owner Alan Pace during and at the end of the first half, and pointed out that the fans were "brilliant in the second half".

Brentford manager Keith Andrews, who signed a new long-term deal this week, said he would not have been happy had the VAR decisions gone against his side but felt they were ultimately correct. He praised his team's first-half display, saying they played with "a lot of conviction" and attacked with "real speed and venom and belief, " and acknowledged that the own goal changed the game. Andrews added that he would have taken a 4-3 victory if asked beforehand and that he would have preferred a more straightforward win to celebrate signing his new contract this week. Damsgaard, reflecting on the manager, said: "He cares so much about this team. "

Table implications and Burnley's form

With the win, Keith Andrews' side strengthened their push for European football and sit seventh in the table with 43 points — only two fewer than Chelsea above them and five behind fifth-placed Liverpool. Burnley remain 19th with 19 points and are described as relegation-threatened. The club have not won at home in the league since October, a run that has intensified ire towards the team and hierarchy.