Isaac Price proved the decisive factor as West Bromwich Albion rallied to a 3-1 victory against promotion hopefuls Burnley in the Sky Bet Championship. The Northern Irish forward netted two second‑half goals after assisting Harry Whitwell’s equaliser, effectively erasing the own‑goal that Callum Styles had handed the visitors earlier in the match. Burnley entered the game without their leading striker Zian Flemming, who was sidelined with a calf problem and linked with a potential move to Lille. The absence of their talisman was evident, as the Clarets could not live up to the high expectations placed on them and faltered dramatically after the interval.
Following the defeat, manager Nicky Hayen was unable to confirm whether Flemming would remain at the club once the transfer window shuts on September 1. Speaking to Sky Sports, Hayen said, “If there is an offer that suits the club’s finances, then perhaps the transfer could happen, but I would prefer him to stay.
Everyone wants to play in the Premier League, so if he can make that step then fine – everything should be in place. As long as that isn’t the case, Zian stays with us.” The win kept Albion’s perfect start to the season intact, marking their third consecutive victory across all competitions and their second league win, which placed them second in the early table, level on points with Millwall but trailing on goal difference. Meanwhile, Burnley suffered their first loss of the campaign, leaving new manager Nicky Hayen still searching for his inaugural Championship triumph. The match opened at a frenetic pace, delivering two goals within the first 18 minutes.
In the eighth minute, Callum Styles inadvertently redirected a Jacob Bruun Larsen cross into his own net, giving Burnley an early lead. West Brom contested the decision, claiming that Hannibal Mejbri had fouled Felix Horn Myhre in the build‑up roughly 70 yards from the goal, but the referee’s decision stood. Just ten minutes later, 20‑year‑old Harry Whitwell restored parity, slipping a low finish past goalkeeper Max Weiss from 12 yards out – his first league goal for the Baggies.
Burnley came close to extending their advantage when Bruun Larsen’s effort struck the post after a probing cross from Marcus Edwards. The second half told a very different story.
Inspired by Price’s energy, Albion surged forward with renewed vigor. In the opening minute after the break, Price took the lead for his side, curling a precise shot beyond a retreating Weiss into the far corner, putting West Brom ahead for the first time in the encounter.
Burnley responded by making three substitutions at the 57th minute, introducing Ugo Raghouber, Zeki Amdouni and Dastan Satpayev in an attempt to revive their faltering performance. However, the decisive moment arrived when Bashir Humphreys was brought down in the box following a challenge on Whitwell, prompting the referee to point to the spot.
Price stepped up and calmly slotted the penalty low to the right of Weiss, who dived the wrong way, sealing a 3‑1 lead for the home side. The goal effectively ended any hopes of a comeback for the visitors.
West Brom manager James Morrison reflected on the result, saying to Sky Sports, “When you start the pre‑season and see the fixtures, you think ‘Oof, welcome back!’ But it was an opportunity to impose ourselves, and we’ve been doing that. It’s my job to keep us firmly grounded. It’s only two games, and it will be a long, hard season with ups and downs, but we have to keep working hard on the training pitch and see what happens.” Burnley’s boss Nicky Hayen was more candid about his side’s shortcomings: “It was totally deserved. They had much more energy than us, winning duels and second balls.
We played too slowly and were far away from the level we showed last week. If we play at our best, we’re a top team, but if you play like this, you’re an average side, and we have to go back to what we did last week because today we weren’t good enough.” The match also highlighted the growing importance of digital engagement for fans. Sky Sports encouraged viewers to follow their coverage via WhatsApp for the latest news, videos, analysis and more, while also promoting free Championship highlights for those who missed the live action. In summary, Isaac Price’s two‑goal performance, coupled with his assist for Whitwell, turned a potentially disappointing outing into a memorable comeback for West Bromwich Albion.
The result not only reinforced their early-season momentum but also exposed vulnerabilities in Burnley’s squad, especially in the absence of their key striker. As the Championship season unfolds, both clubs will look to build on this encounter – Albion aiming to sustain their impressive start, and Burnley seeking to regroup and find consistency under Hayen’s stewardship.