Cullen & Costelloe help Burnley make perfect start

Huddersfield 0-1 Burnley

Republic of Ireland midfielder Josh Cullen excelled while Limerick teenager Dara Costelloe was handed a first start as Vincent Kompany's reign as Burnley boss began with a 1-0 victory at Huddersfield in the opening match of the new Sky Bet Championship season.

Costelloe, 19, joined Burnley in February 2021 from Galway United. He became Galway's youngest ever player when he made his senior debut against Finn Harps back in September 2018 as a 15-year-old.

Cullen followed Kompany fropm Anderlecht earlier this month and both men were in the thick of the action at the John Smith's Stadium.

On-loan Chelsea winger Ian Maatsen marked his Clarets debut with the only goal of the game as Burnley secured three points on their return to the second tier following six seasons of top-flight football.

Huddersfield were a pale shadow of the team that reached the play-off final last term, mustering just one shot all evening and the Terriers have now lost their opening home game for five successive seasons.

Both sides showed six changes to the starting XIs that concluded their 2021/22 campaigns but it was the visitors who looked more comfortable with their new-look line-up.

Kompany's men dominated the first half and had a great chance to take the lead through Ashley Barnes.

Barnes was lucky not to be flagged offside racing on to a Cullen through ball, but the 32-year-old striker could not capitalise fully on his fortune when he miskicked wide with only keeper Lee Nicholls to beat under pressure from Tom Lees.

Moments later, Cullen fed Maatsen down the left before testing Nicholls from the edge of the box after receiving a return ball.

Barnes, continuing to play on the last shoulder, called Nicholls into action again with an