Tchaouna firecracker adds sheen to Burnley’s French-inspired defeat of Leeds

When Lesley Ugochukwu and Loum Tchaouna were scholars in the Rennes youth team, they were probably not fantasising about playing for Burnley, but the two have reunited at Turf Moor where the club and French duo are living out their Premier League dream. Their goals downed Leeds and offered further proof the Clarets have a chance of staying in the Premier League.

The result means Burnley have defeated the two teams that came up with them from the Championship at home and have collected all of their seven points at Turf Moor. They have improved since promotion, epitomised by a goal-of-the-season contender from Tchaouna to add to his old mate’s opener. The two joined forces more than a decade ago, before reaching their teenage years in north-west France, moving up the ranks to the first team before separating to add Lazio and Chelsea to their collective CVs.

Burnley will not be concerned about the route they took to Lancashire, but that they managed to attract young talents, offering them a platform to grow in the Premier League. Ugochukwu never looked like being a regular at Stamford Bridge and suffered through a loan spell in a dreadful Southampton team, but he is coming of age alongside Tchaouna.

The likelihood of this match being a classic was nonexistent in the opening stages as neither team produced any notable quality in possession. Burnley’s most promising outlet was Ugochukwu in central midfield. He was the victim of two fouls as he caused problems and Leeds struggled with his athleticism and driving runs.

It would have been sensible to pay him close attention, but the Leeds defence forgot he existed. Kyle Walker was given plenty of space on the right to whip in the perfect cross and Ugochukwu was able to head home from six yards.

Burnley’s Lesley Ugochukwu rises high to score the first goal of the game against Leeds. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA

Burnley’s survival hopes will rest finding consistent scorers. Last season, Josh Brownhill topped the charts with 18 from midfielder and those will need replacing, especially as they do not possess a prolific striker. Ugochukwu netted once at Southampton, but this was his second in two games, showing he is finding the right positions.

Liverpool are the only away team to win at Turf Moor in the league in the past 17 months. Leeds hit a post in the first half, but lacked creativity in midfield, making life comfortable for Burnley. Ceding possession and territory is a dangerous game, but Scott Parker’s side are the masters. Leeds were having all the ball and should have tested Martin Dubravka when Sean Longstaff chipped a cross to an unmarked Jack Harrison, but he volleyed into the ground and wide from inside the area.

Burnley did not have the ambition to attack and the second came as a surprise to everyone. Walker burst down the right to wake up the crowd and the claret-clad forwards, but no one could keep up with the right-back, who had to play it backwards. Tchaouna, who had been on the pitch 10 minutes, has shown glimpses of his ability since joining from Lazio this summer, but few expected him to pick out the top corner from 30 yards, making the moment and roar more spectacular. At this point no one was concerned about whether Burnley would hold on.