NEW goalkeepers Tom Heaton and Alex Cisak made their first appearances for Burnley, beginning their glove battle.
But they will have more to do to make an impression on manager Sean Dyche in the upcoming friendlies, after losing their opening friendly to Morecambe at the Globe Arena last night.
Cisak suffered the ignominy of conceding, after replacing Heaton at the break as one of a number of changes made by manager Sean Dyche, who wanted minutes for as much of his squad as possible ahead of their trip to Cork.
Heaton had a quiet start to life as a Claret, with most of Morecambe’s efforts straying off target.
Cisak came under more threat from the League Two club early in the second half, although made up for the goal with a smart save, touching Ryan Williams’ volley onto the bar in the last minute.
The Shrimps had earlier twice hit the woodwork, with efforts from Jack Redshaw hitting the angle and Tony Diagne seeing a towering header bounce off the crossbar.
The game looked destined to end goalless until Kevin Ellison ghosted into the box to convert a right wing cross from Padraig Amond – who is set to sign for Morecambe before the start of the season following his release from Accrington Stanley in the summer.
Burnley tried to hit back, but couldn’t do enough to test goalkeeper Barry Roche.
Burnley, encouraged to keep the ball and play by manager Sean Dyche from the sidelines, had tried to find some rhythm.
But a stream of substitutions gave the second half a more familiar pre-season friendly feel.
The Clarets made wholesale changes at half-time, with only Sam Vokes, Danny Lafferty, trialist Scott Arfield and Alex Coleman staying on the pitch after the break.
Coleman had not been due to feature until the second half but was called upon early when Joseph Mills was clattered by Joe McGee, which surprisingly didn’t register on the referee’s radar.
Mills hobbled off, after being given arguably the toughest assignment trying to contain Joe Mwasile.
The winger proved a livewire and tricky for the defender to handle, in an unfamiliar right back role.
Mwasile was Morecambe’s biggest threat and came close to scoring twice, after Danny Lafferty cleared Andrew Fleming’s cross-shot off the line.
Burnley had enjoyed the better start to the first half, with Keith Treacy and Danny Ings forming a promising link.
The two combined with Ings heading wide of the near post from Treacy’s dinked delivery.
Treacy, who had a bright first 45 minutes, came close himself with a 25-yard free kick before the break.
Burnley granted Charlie Austin the day off after his proposed move to Hull City fell through.
Burnley (first half): Tom Heaton; Joseph Mills (Alex Coleman 38), Kevin Long, Jason Shackell, Danny Lafferty; Keith Treacy, Dean Marney, Brian Stock, Scott Arfield; Danny Ings, Sam Vokes.
(Second half): Alex Cisak; Alex Coleman, Michael Duff, Ben Mee, Danny Lafferty (Tom Anderson 74); Ross Wallace, Scott Arfield (Luke Gallagher 74), Steven Hewitt, Junior Stanislas; George Porter, Sam Vokes (Jason Gilchrist 74)
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