Burnley's bleak opening chapter under manager Nicky Hayen persisted, but Bristol City managed to turn the tide in the final minutes, clinching a 2-1 triumph at a nervy Turf Moor. The Clarets appeared poised to finally kick‑start their campaign when Aaron Ramsey broke the deadlock in the 56th minute, delivering a powerful strike that sent the home crowd into a brief roar of hope.
Yet City responded with determination, equalising through Rob Dickie in the 82nd minute after a well‑taken corner found him unmarked in the box. The drama reached its climax when substitute Yu Hirakawa unleashed a spectacular finish as stoppage time began, securing a third consecutive win for Michael Skubala’s side and propelling them into the top‑four positions. The disappointment among the Burnley faithful was palpable, with many directing their frustration at American owner Alan Pace. The late collapse left the Clarets with only two points from five matches under the Belgian coach, and the club now finds itself at the foot of the Championship table just months after relegation from the Premier League.
New signing Reo Hatate made his debut after completing a deadline‑day move from Celtic, while Kyle Walker returned to the starting eleven. Recent acquisition Igor Julio, who arrived from Brighton earlier in the week, began the game on the bench.
Meanwhile, Bristol City gave summer recruit Gibson Yah his first start, although Brian De Keersmaecker was deemed not yet ready for first‑team action despite his own deadline‑day arrival. The visitors applied pressure early on, with Rio Cardines delivering a free‑kick into the danger area that was cleared by Walker, only to be followed up by Jason Knight lurking for a second chance.
In the eighth minute, Ramsey produced the first notable attempt of the match, striking a high drive over the bar after a corner found him on the edge of the box. Throughout the first half, City appeared the more confident outfit, a sentiment reflected in Lorent Tolaj’s powerful low effort that rang off the post just before the 30‑minute mark. Later, Jed Wallace unleashed a brilliant shot from the edge of the area, aiming for the top corner, but Burnley keeper Max Weiss managed to tip it onto the crossbar. From the ensuing corner, Scott Twine headed over, as the Robins continued to press.
As the half‑hour wound down, Ramsey again tested the keeper with a high strike from the edge of the box, while a section of the Burnley crowd began to boo their own team at the interval. The manager responded by making tactical changes, introducing Anel Ahmedhodzic and Armando Broja for Andreas Hountondji and Hjalmar Ekdal as the second half commenced. These substitutions injected fresh energy and helped Burnley regain a foothold in the game.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 56th minute. Hatate, positioned on the edge of the box, was spotted by Max Alleyne, who delivered a perfectly weighted pass to his right. Ramsey arrived in stride and unleashed a ferocious 15‑yard effort that flew past Sam Tickle, giving Burnley a 1‑0 lead.
The Clarets seemed to have seized momentum, but City remained undeterred. In the 82nd minute, Cardines delivered a corner that found Dickie, who rose above the defence to power a header into the net, restoring parity. With the score level, tension mounted. As the clock ticked into stoppage time, a corner again found its way to Yu Hirakawa, who had been introduced as a substitute.
The Japanese forward struck a low, curling shot from about 25 yards out, beating Weiss and sending the Turf Moor crowd into a roar of anger and disbelief. The goal completed a remarkable comeback for Bristol City, marking their third straight victory and lifting them into the Championship’s top four. After the final whistle, Hayen addressed the media, acknowledging the supporters’ frustration: "I completely understand the fans, they're frustrated and disappointed.
Of course, it's not nice to experience this, but I understand and I can accept it. The only thing we can do is keep on fighting back and showing resilience." He admitted that a lack of confidence and fitness plagued his squad, noting that many players had not featured regularly for 15‑18 months and would need additional weeks to reach peak condition.
Hayen emphasized patience, stating that with the influx of new signings and returning players, the team would only gel fully after the international break, when fitness levels would be at 100 percent. Skubala, reflecting on his side’s performance, said, "For me, it wasn't a smash and grab or anything like that. I think we deserved to win it and it was great when we got it over the line. First half they didn't cause us too many problems.
And after they scored we looked really good and the team that was in the ascendancy. When we got our goal, I thought we were the ones that could go on and win it and we did that. It's early days, but it's really encouraging to see the team fight and play some good attacking football. It shows we've got a strong group that can win matches at this level." The victory not only boosted City’s confidence but also underscored their ability to compete fiercely in the league, while Burnley now faces a crucial period of rebuilding and reflection as they strive to reverse their fortunes in the weeks ahead.