IT’S fair to say that Clarets striker Charlie Austin hasn’t had Lady Luck on his side when facing Leeds United this season.
The 22-year-old faced a spell on the sidelines following the recurrence of a shoulder injury in a heavy fall with Patrick Kisnorbo at Turf Moor. And he was dealt further agony at Elland Road when his instinctive strike was cancelled out in United’s late, late show.
“I did my shoulder and I’ve come back with a few appearances on the bench and the gaffer gave me a start,” said Austin.
“We had the game in our hands and they got the two goals. It’s the second time we have played Leeds now and they have scored two late goals and the lads are gutted.”
Austin’s 10th of the season, his third against Leeds in four appearances, had rewarded the Clarets for their incredible work-rate which the hitman declares had to be stepped up in the aftermath of Kieran Trippier’s undeserved red card.
“We have all seen on the video Kieran’s sending off,” Austin said. “They are fouls but there’s no way they are two yellow cards.
“We dug in and got the goal which we did deserve but unfortunately right at the end they have got the two goals.”
He added: “I worked hard and it’s hard up front on your own. When you’ve got ten men you do a double shift but you just do as much as you can for the team.
“You have to lead the line as well as drop in and when Chris won the second ball it put me in and I knew straight away I would have to hit and next thing I knew it was in.
“I have got a good record against Leeds. I have got three in four now and I don’t mind playing against them but regardless of that we didn’t get the three points.”
That cruel defeat arrested a spectacular run for the Clarets. But Austin is ready to bounce back starting with the FA Cup third round clash against Premier League new boys Norwich City at Carrow Road, the ground which staged his Football League debut.
“We have been on a great run and we were unlucky yesterday,” he said. “We should have got the three points and if not then the draw, but hopefully we can bounce back.
“Now we’ve got a little break from the League with the FA Cup tomorrow. We need to re-group for Norwich and then look forward to the Middlesbrough game and push on from there.”