'Burnley a long way from the team they once were'

Bristol City winger Jed Wallace said facing Burnley was “night and day” from the last time he played at Turf Moor with West Bromwich Albion.

The 32-year-old featured for the Robins in their 2-1 victory against the Clarets on Saturday, which was his first visit to Turf Moor since a 2-1 defeat with the Baggies in January 2023.

Burnley won the Championship with 101 points in the 2022-23 campaign but are second from bottom after six games following relegation from the Premier League, with new boss Nicky Hayen yet to win a league game.

“It’s night and day from the last time I went there with with West Brom under Carlos Corberan when they had Vincent Kompany,” Wallace told BBC’s 72+ podcast.

“I made a foul on the edge of the box in the 91st minute and then Mr [Scott] Twine, who I’m now playing with, obviously inevitably stuck it in the top corner.

“That night I felt like it was a proper game of football against one of the best teams I’ve probably ever played in the Championship.

“It felt a long way from that. I think obviously there’s been a lot of change in personnel there over the last two three years.”

Wallace said Burnley “haven’t really clicked yet” and didn’t seem to have a “clear idea of what they were doing”.

“That comes obviously with a new manager, a new style of play and new players,” he said.

Despite their flaws, Wallace believes 39-year-old striker Jamie Vardy will be a “great signing” for Burnley.

“I think he’s someone that will certainly have that aggression and will bring that to them as a group,” he added.

“I didn’t really feel that they had much of that on the weekend. He’s still a top, top player.

“I think you saw that last time he was in the Championship for Leicester, he’s not lost a yard of pace. He’s still absolutely rapid.”