Burnley´s Nugent double stuns Sunderland

Burnley striker David Nugent marked his home debut with his first goals since February to give the Clarets a 3-1 win over Sunderland on Saturday.

Nugent joined Owen Coyle’s team in a six-month loan from Portsmouth on transfer deadline day and the England international made an immediate impact on his first appearance at Turf Moor.

The former Preston star hadn’t found the back of the net since scoring for Portsmouth against Liverpool last season, but he finally ended the drought in his 16th game since then to give Burnley a third home win in three attempts.

Coyle’s side, promoted via the play-offs last season, had taken the lead through a Graham Alexander penalty, but Darren Bent levelled before the break.

Then Nugent came off the bench just after the hour and turned the course of the game with two fine finishes.

Sunderland striker Fraizer Campbell caused early panic in the Burnley defence with an incisive run and cross which was parried by Brian Jensen and hacked clear by Wade Elliott.

Steven Fletcher had Burnley’s first chance when he took Clarke Carlisle’s pass and drove a powerful shot over the bar from the edge of the box.

The Clarets were on the front foot again in the 12th minute and this time they got the breakthrough.

Anton Ferdinand needlessly tripped Elliott, who was running away from goal in the right corner of the penalty area and referee Chris Foy pointed to the spot.

Burnley captain Alexander stepped up to lash the penalty past Craig Gordon to open the scoring.

Steve Bruce’s team mounted an impressive response to that setback. Bent should have punished a mistake by Andre Bikey but shot straight at Jensen in the 21st minute.

Bent wouldn’t rue that miss for long. In the 39th minute Reid played a superb pass into the Burnley penalty area and Bent, cleverly timing his run to stay onside, slotted past Jensen for his fifth goal of the season.

Campbell almost put the visitors ahead in the 52nd minute when his low drive was blocked well at close range by Jensen after a neat lay-off by Steed Malbranque.

But with clear chances at a premium, Coyle sent on Nugent just past the hour.

It took just minutes for Nugent to make an impact as he met Elliott’s cross from the right and headed past Gordon.

Nugent scored just three goals in 34 league games for Portsmouth, but he had two for Burnley in less than half an hour after curling home a superb strike from long-range in the 86th minute.