Danny Ings had not scored in the Premier League since February 2023 but his 16-minute cameo could have ended with a hat-trick.
On as a substitute in the 82nd minute, the West Ham striker saw a goal ruled out for offside, scored a stoppage-time equaliser then nearly won it with a long-range effort that crashed against the crossbar.
West Ham had been booed off at half-time after David Datro Fofana’s thunderbolt and an own goal from Konstantinos Mavropanos had given Burnley a 2-0 lead. But a stirring second half performance, with Lucas Paqueta halving the deficit before Ings’ eqauliser against his former club, ensured the points were shared.
West Ham boss David Moyes was left rueing his side’s missed chances, but he reserved much of his frustration for the officials.
As well as the tight offside call, the Hammers felt they had a strong case for a penalty in the final minute when Sander Berge appeared to head the ball onto both of his hands.
Danny Ings earned West Ham a late point in a 2-2 draw with Burnley at the London Stadium
The striker had not scored in over a year but came up with a half-volley in stoppage-time
West Ham were booed off at half-time after David Datro Fofana’s thunderbolt put Burnley ahead
‘I’ve got to say the decisions went so badly against us today,’ Moyes said.
‘The offside for the goal. Then we’ve got Sander Berge heads the ball or tries to head the ball in front and it hits his arms. We had a situation not unlike this in midweek.
‘You don’t jump with your two arms in front of your face, because you can only head it back that way.
‘If your arms are in the wrong places and you head it against them, why would that not be punished?’
For Burnley, this was a tale similar to that of fellow strugglers Sheffield United – who had thrown away a 2-0 lead against Bournemouth a day earlier.
‘If I focus just on the timing of the two goals, then that’s two frustrating events in the game,’ boss Vincent Kompany said.
‘Was the team alive? Yes. Did the team fight? Yes. I want to take that into the next game and nothing else.’
Gareth Southgate was in the stands to watch West Ham’s three England hopefuls – Jarrod Bowen, Kalvin Phillips and James Ward-Prowse. With the latter two hooked at half-time, only Bowen seems to have a strong case for selection next week.
Neither Phillips or Ward-Prowse can say they did enough to impress Southgate and neither covered themselves in glory for Burnley’s opener.
Berge split the two midfielders with a pin-point pass to Fofana, who shrugged off a challenge from Nayef Aguerd and Phillips before unleashing a thunderous shot into the top right corner.
West Ham had improved towards the end of the half but gifted Burnley a second just before the break when Mavropanos clumsily diverted Josh Cullen’s cross into his own net.
An own goal from Konstantinos Mavropanos had given Burnley a 2-0 lead just before half-time
Lucas Paqueta halved the deficit by slotting the ball home just a minute after the break
The half-time boos from the home fans were to be expected, but an immediate response came after the break. Maxime Esteve was caught in possession and Paqueta pounced before driving forward and slotting a calm finish past James Trafford.
Mohammed Kudus should have brought West Ham level when he was picked out by Bowen, but could only fire over the bar from close range.
On came Ings for 16 minutes of mayhem. He looked to have equalised when he raced onto Michail Antonio’s chested pass and chipped the ball over the on-rushing Trafford. But his celebrations were cut short when a VAR check showed Antonio was offside in the build-up.
Burnley will feel frustrated after conceding late on but they have moved off bottom spot
But the striker did not have to wait much longer for another chance. Kudus wrestled Lorenz Assignon off the ball and sent a cross towards Ings, who took one touch before turning and hitting a half-volley into the bottom right corner.
It was no more than West Ham deserved, though they could have taken all three points when Ings sent a long-range effort against the crossbar.
Burnley, too, nearly won it at the death but Areola made a fine reaction save to keep out Josh Brownhill’s close-range effort.
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