There are a lot more challenges coming our way
Burnley’s 1-0 win at Southampton yesterday seemed to leave their manager Mauricio Pellegrino confused almost as to how it could have happened after they’d turned in a performance that, according to him, was outstanding.
After the game he said: “It’s a really painful game because I think we were much better than them in all different aspects of the game, defensively, on set plays and with the ball. We had a number of possibilities to convert chances, but that was the only aspect in which they were better than us; they were clinical in converting the chance they had.
“This is part of football. We have to live with this and learn for the future. It’s part of our job and our life. Sometimes you can be better than the opponent but still lose, like today.”
He added: “The conclusion we can take is that we can dominate a game from the beginning in our way. I will defend our style until the end because I think playing in this way, with this spirit, the results will be coming.
“I can’t say anything about our attitude or our spirit because we did everything to try to get something from the game. We created chances, but we couldn’t convert them.”
“We had to be diligent and work hard in the first half and look to counter and today, the depth in the squad was evident. I’m really pleased with our timing, as a staff, of the substitutions today. The two lads who came on up top were absolutely terrific and they changed the whole feel of the game and turned in our favour.
“I thought those two lads were a credit to their profession. I marvel at this group, especially those who aren’t playing week-in and week-out and they came on and really affected the game.”
The two players who came on were strikers Ashley Barnes and Sam Vokes and it was Vokes who won the game for Burnley, heading in the only goal of the game from a Johann Berg Gudmundsson cross.
“Sam’s header is sublime” Dyche enthused. “What a header that is. It is right up there with some of the best headers I’ve seen. He is jumping away from goal and gets tremendous power to find the corner and it was worthy of winning any game.
“Twelve yards out, to find the net with that power and beat a keeper of that standard from a fantastic cross, it’s a fantastic finish and that caps off a fine display.”
Following on from Monday’s win over Newcastle, that’s brought us six points this week and the manager added: “We still know we can be better with the ball, but we’ve found a way of operating that suits us and it’s been two fantastic clean sheets this week.
“Two hard earned wins is probably where we are, at the moment. The margins are tight and you have to get on the right side of them and, so far, we’ve done that. You have to be resolute in your defending and your shape; they are things that I take very seriously.”
“We know where we’re at and we still need more quality when we’re going forwards, but we are willing to do the graft and we do that very well. I’m delighted to be where we are, but we know there are a lot more challenges coming our way and there’s a belief in this group that we’ll have to work hard for everything we get.”
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