Ever since being moved away from centre-back to play as a makeshift left back following both Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento’s injuries, Dan Burn’s form has unfortunately got worse and worse with each passing week.
At times he’s done a solid job, performing well in big home wins over Spurs and Athletic Bilbao, but in recent defeats away to Brighton, West Ham and Brentford, he’s stood out like a sore thumb both on and off the ball.
Sunday’s performance will be the tipping point for many fans: targeted from minute one by a rapid Brentford attack, Burn’s red card and concession of a penalty proved to be our ultimate undoing.
After his yellow card and fortunate escape after bringing Ouattara down the first time, many questioned why Howe didn’t immediately sub him off for Lewis Hall, which seemed like an obvious move at the time.
Speaking after the game yesterday, Howe explained his reluctance to take off a 6ft 7″ Burn against a side so dangerous from set plays after already losing a big man in Joelinton earlier in the game.
He accepts that, in hindsight, he got that judgement call wrong, explaining his thought process behind heavily-criticised move below:
“Those moments obviously impact everything because with hindsight, you then go, well, you could have done something before that moment (Burn was sent off).
“But with Dan’s height being pivotal from the set plays and with Joelinton going off, we then suddenly would have become very small. So, they’re big calls to make.
“With hindsight, you’d possibly make a different decision. Of course, in that moment, I have to weigh up what I’m doing.”
Hall wasn’t ready to start, as Howe hinted pre-match, but it was clear as day that Burn was struggling against Brentford’s pace in wide areas and walking a tightrope he was in danger of falling off after the booking.
So, to then see him not only give away the penalty that sent Brentford 2-1 up AND reduce us to 10 men in the process, many were left infuriated to see Hall ready to come on when the damage had already been done.
Burn will now be suspended for our home clash with Man City a week on Saturday, giving Hall a chance to build his match fitness over the break, come back into the side and hopefully balance up a back line that’s been lacking a natural left-back in recent weeks.
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