Isaac Price proved to be the catalyst behind West Bromwich Albion’s dramatic 3‑1 reversal of fortunes against promotion‑chasing Burnley in the Sky Bet Championship. The Northern Irish forward found the net twice in the second half at The Hawthorns, after he had already set up Harry Whitwell’s equaliser, effectively erasing the earlier own‑goal by Callum Styles. Burnley entered the match without their leading striker, Zian Flemming, who was sidelined by a calf problem and was also the subject of reported interest from French side Lille.
The absence of their talisman proved costly, as the Clarets could not live up to the lofty expectations that surrounded them, delivering a lacklustre display after the break. Following the defeat, Burnley manager Nicky Hayen was unable to confirm whether Flemming would remain at the club when the transfer window shuts on 1 September. Speaking to Sky Sports, Hayen said, “If there is an offer that suits the finances of the club, then maybe the transfer can be done, but I want him to stay.
Everyone has the ambition to play in the Premier League, so if he can make that step then okay, everything should be in place, but as long as that’s not the case, Zian stays with us.” The win kept Albion’s perfect start to the season intact, marking their third consecutive triumph across all competitions and their second league victory, which placed them second in the early standings, just behind Millwall on goal‑difference. Meanwhile, Burnley suffered their first loss of the campaign, leaving new boss Nicky Hayen still searching for his inaugural Championship win.
The match kicked off at a frenetic pace, producing two goals within the first 18 minutes. In the eighth minute, Callum Styles inadvertently turned his own cross from Jacob Bruun Larsen into his own net, giving Burnley an early lead. Albion argued that Hannibal Mejbri had fouled Felix Horn Myhre during the build‑up, roughly 70 yards from the goal, but the referee allowed the own‑goal to stand after a series of contested passages of play. Twenty minutes later, Harry Whitwell restored parity, slipping a low‑driven finish past goalkeeper Max Weiss from twelve yards out – his first league goal for the club at the age of 20.
Burnley came close to extending their advantage when Bruun Larsen’s side‑footed effort struck the post after a probing cross from Marcus Edwards. The first half ended with the scores level at 1‑1, setting the stage for a decisive second period. The second half belonged entirely to West Brom.
Inspired by Price’s energy, the team launched a dominant performance. In the opening minute after the interval, Price took the lead for Albion, curling a shot beyond a slightly out‑of‑position Weiss into the far corner, making it 2‑1.
Burnley responded by making three substitutions in the 57th minute, introducing Ugo Raghouber, Zeki Amdouni and Dastan Satpayev in an attempt to change the game’s momentum. However, the changes failed to produce a breakthrough. Instead, Albion doubled their advantage when Bashir Humphreys was brought down in the box by Whitwell, resulting in a clear penalty.
Price stepped up and calmly slotted the spot‑kick low to the right of Weiss, leaving the keeper stranded and sending the home crowd into rapturous applause. West Brom’s manager James Morrison reflected on the victory, telling Sky Sports, “When you start the pre‑season and see the fixtures come out and see the opposition you’re like, ‘Oof, welcome back!’ But it was an opportunity to impose ourselves, and we’ve been doing that, and it’s my job to keep us firmly on the ground.
It’s been two games, and it’s going to be a long, hard season with ups and downs, but we’ve got to keep working hard on the training pitch and see what happens.” Hayen, for his part, accepted responsibility for his side’s lackluster display. “It was totally deserved. They had much more energy than us, winning duels and second balls,” he said. “We played too slowly and were far away from the level last week.
If we play at our best, we’re a top team, but if you play like this, you’re an average team, and we have to go back to what we did last week because today we weren’t good enough.” The result not only reinforced West Brom’s early season momentum but also highlighted the impact a single player can have when in form. Price’s two goals and assist underscored his growing reputation as a decisive attacking force in the Championship. For Burnley, the defeat serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of squad depth and the challenges of coping with injuries to key personnel. As the transfer window draws to a close, both clubs will be keen to address their respective needs – West Brom to maintain their winning trajectory, and Burnley to secure the services of a striker capable of delivering the goals they have missed.
Fans can continue to follow the drama of the Championship through Sky Sports’ coverage, including live streams, highlights, and in‑depth analysis available on mobile devices. The league’s competitive nature promises further twists and turns as teams vie for promotion and survival, making every match a potential turning point in the season’s narrative.