Chris Wood scored a first-half hat-trick as Burnley thumped a shell-shocked Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0 in a Premier League match on Sunday.
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Chris Wood scored a first-half hat-trick as Burnley thumped a shell-shocked Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0 in a Premier League match on Sunday. The win saw Burnley lift themselves nine points clear of the league‘s relegation zone. Burnley were sharper and more committed of the two sides. However Wolves, who are mired in the mid-table this season, were architects of their own downfall. They put in some mostly sloppy defensive work at an empty Molineux. But Sean Dyche’s men were easily superior on the day and are now in 14th place. That is nine points clear of 18th-placed Fulham with just five games remaining. As a result, they are almost certain to secure a sixth successive season of top-flight football.
The away side took what was a surprising lead in the 15th minute. Wolves defender Willy Boly misjudged a header and the ball fell to Wood.
The New Zealand forward turned Conor Coady one way then the other down the right before firing the ball into the far corner of the net.
The away side doubled their lead six minutes later. Dwight McNeil intercepted a poor pass from Adama Traore and crossed for Wood to tap home.
McNeil turned provider once again as Wood completed his hat-trick shortly before half-time, heading one in from a corner.
Wood, who is now Burnley’s top-scorer in the Premier League, is the first New Zealander to score a Premier League hat-trick.
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New Zealand are the 46th nation to be represented by a hat-trick scorer in the #PL after Chris Wood’s treble!#WOLBUR pic.twitter.com/bOk2mkh5gX
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 25, 2021
Nuno Espirito Santo’s men started the second half more brightly. But it was Burnley who still had the bigger threat. Matej Vydra thought he scored early in the second half but VAR ruled it out for offside.
Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio got down low to keep out a Matthew Lowton drive with 25 minutes to go as Burnley continued to pose Wolves problems.
Wood went close to a fourth in the closing stages before turning provider for Ashley Westwood to thump home from the edge of the box.
