Vincent Kompany’s reign as Burnley manager got off to a great start as his side produced a dominant 1-0 win away at Huddersfield Town in the Championship.

Huddersfield – under new boss Danny Schofield for the first time – failed to register a shot on target in the entire match as Burnley controlled the game after the break with more than two thirds of the possession.

Another Clarets debutant, Scott Twine, almost doubled the lead with five minutes left, but his curling free-kick hit the post.

New managers, new players

Burnley came into the game having rebuilt their squad after relegation from the top flight last season.

Kompany moved to Burnley from Anderlecht having lost experienced players such as Ben Mee, James Tarkowski, Wout Weghorst, Dwight McNeil and Nick Pope.

The Clarets blooded new signings including Aro Muric, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Connor Roberts and Ian Maatsen, while youngster Dara Costelloe was given a debut in attack.

Huddersfield came into the game off the back of a play-off final loss and the resignation of manager Carlos Corberan just 22 days ago.

New boss Danny Schofield has also lost key players like Lewis O’Brien and Harry Toffolo, although he was still able to call upon a number of the side that helped the Terriers reach Wembley – including Jonathan Hogg, Danny Ward and Duane Holmes.

He also went into the game without centre-back Matty Pearson after the 28-year-old suffered a serious foot injury in last week’s pre-season game with Bolton, and after the match Schofield said he will miss “a significant period”.

Clarets dominate poor hosts

Burnley started well and should have taken the lead inside the first 10 minutes. New signing Josh Cullen’s excellent through-ball set Ashley Barnes free, but Burnley’s most experienced forward took too long as he closed in on goal and Tom Lees slid in and dispossessed him at close range.

Cullen and Barnes had shots saved soon after before Maatsen gave Burnley a deserved lead – the Dutch left-back was first to react to a Barnes mistake having got forward and he curled right-footed shot into the bottom corner.

It should have been 2-0 two minutes later, but Lee Nicholls saved well at close range from Roberts after the debutant had played a nice one-two to break into the box.

Kompany’s influence on Burnley was clear to see as they dominated possession in the first period and played some delightful football in and around the Huddersfield box as the beaten play-off finalists struggled to deal with them.

Youngster Costelloe had a great chance to open his account for Burnley, but side-footed an effort wide of the far post after great work down the left by the impressive Maatsen five minutes before the break.

Huddersfield did not win a corner until the 67th minute as Burnley continued to control possession after the break, and it took another seven minutes for the hosts to have a decent effort when Ward fired over from the edge of the box after a mistake by Costelloe.

The night was summed up with two late free-kicks as Twine – a £4m summer signing from League One side Milton Keynes Dons – beautifully curled against the post, while in stoppage time Huddersfield hit the chest of the first Burnley defender from a wide area after a foul on Jordan Rhodes.

Sourced From BBC