Burnley lost a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with West Ham United at Turf Moor this afternoon.
The first opportunity came to Carlton Cole on nine minutes. The striker collected the through ball, rounded the goalkeeper but went slightly off-balance and screwed it wide of the post.
On 14 minutes, Cole missed another chance after O'Brien's cross deflected into his path - the former Chelsea forward managed to hit his right-foot shot high and wide.
After a dominant opening 20 minutes for West Ham, it was Burnley who took the lead on 25 minutes. Marvin Bartley collected the ball around 30 yards out, eased past Danny Collins and shot low into the net to make it 1-0 to the home side.
A minute later, West Ham thought they had equalised after Nolan powered it in off the bar. However, the referee blew his whistle for a push on David Edgar.
The away side nearly drew level again on 29 minutes, when Mark Noble's free kick was won by Collins and looped over Lee Grant. Cole then missed from a yard out before the ball hit the post. Nolan shot from the rebound but Grant had recovered to save on the line.
Burnley shocked West Ham again on 36 minutes by doubling their lead. Ben Mee crossed in from the left and Martin Paterson got in front of Collins to put the ball in the net with his thigh.
The home side almost made it 3-0 just before half time when Ross Wallace's cross beat the defenders and Paterson before hitting the post and bouncing clear.
West Ham came out in the second half looking to get back into the game and, on 52 minutes, nearly did so after some great work by George McCartney. The full-back beat two men down the left before hitting a shot with his right foot, but Grant made a great save to keep the score at 2-0.
West Ham finally got a goal back on 68 minutes through captain Kevin Nolan. Gary O'Neill's cross caused confusion in the box, before Nolan nipped in to lob the goalkeeper.
Two minutes later, the away side got an equaliser to turn the game around. Noble's free kick was flicked on by Nicky Maynard and Tomkins vollied it in from ten yards out.
John Carew nearly won the game for West Ham twice with two chances in the 88th and 89th minute, though Grant was able to keep both efforts out.
Sam Hughes
