There are different ways of skinning a cat
Burnley got the better of West Brom and their manager Alan Pardew yesterday with a 2-1 win at the Hawthorns that leaves their current manager with just one win since he took charge in November.
Pardew saw his side score a late consolation and said of his team’s performance: “We were so unengaged in the first half, too deep, too conservative. We didn’t set the team up like that but, when you’re under pressure you’re under, you can see it affected the players. I got a bit of positivity into them at half time and we engaged Burnley in the second half. We did well and probably should have got ourselves a draw out of the game.
“The effects of the run we’re on showed in our confidence today. One team was on the back of a 3-0 win away at West Ham, one on the back of a last minute defeat at Bournemouth. And it showed. Burnley as individuals were better than us and perhaps deserved their win.”
Pardew reflected on what he thought were good chances for his team that weren’t taken. “This is where the team is,” he admitted. “It’s almost but it’s not good enough. We’ve got six games to go to get some honesty and credibility on the pitch and to get some points. We’re all suffering. If you have any West Brom heart then you’re suffering at the moment.”
Last season, after a 4-0 defeat at West Brom, Sean Dyche spoke about it not being a lucky ground for him. It had followed a 4-0 loss two seasons earlier where he’d also suffered a broken leg in his playing days.
Speaking about the performance, he said: “”I think the ability to operate in a different way pleased me today. They allowed us a lot of possession in the first half and we used it wisely. You can get sloppy in possession but I don’t think we did. We kept probing and, of course, got a fine goal.
“In the second half they went to a more simplistic format and it became a bit more of a ding-dong, but I still felt we dealt with it very well in terms of the basics, scored another good goal and saw the game out, so it’s very pleasing.
“I know they are having a tough time and I wish them well after today, but it’s not easy to come to these grounds and play, especially in the circumstances. There are different ways of skinning a cat and winning games is what it’s all about. We’ve found different ways to do that throughout the season and only lost nine times in the Premier League which is a terrific achievement.
“A lot is made of our style and I’ve no problem with that, but I want the team to be as effective as possible in many different ways and both halves today showed that.”
Asked about being a top seven club and pushing for Europe, Dyche added: “You have to be careful what you wish for, we’re a work in progress. To be the real deal, you’ve got to keep working, but I am proud of my players’ achievements.”
Follow UpTheClarets:Share this page :