We stayed controlled and focused and calm
Burnley beat Newcastle 1-0 on a night when there was extra focus on the managers as a Jeff Hendrick won the game for Burnley.
Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez wasn’t happy with the goal. “We made a mistake and after it we were out of position,” he said. “I don’t like to name anyone but it was obvious we didn’t so what we had to do.
“On the ball we had to be a bit better and more precise. We still had chances and some attempts, but in these kind of games you have to be sure to be strong enough in defence. You have to be better in attack.
“You can win games like this but they have to make a mistake; they didn’t and took advantage of it.”
He continued: “It was an even game in that we could have won it or lost it. It was perhaps going to come down to one mistake and that’s exactly what happened. They were pushing and had some chances but not enough.
“These kind of games, when you have control, you have to be sure when you create something more you don’t give the ball away the way we did.”
“It was a hard fought win and I felt we just about edged it. It was a very tight affair, which we thought it might be. We had to work very hard against Rafa’s team, who are renowned for their organisation.
“We never got lost in the mix of the game though, we stayed controlled and focused and calm when we needed to. We defended very well, but we also tried to probe for an opening and when a chance finally came it was a brilliant cross from Johann and a great finish from Jeff.”
Dyche added: “There are signs that the team is progressing and the pleasing thing for me is seeing players take their chance. Barnesy has come in tonight out of the blue, after we made a late decision to leave Wood out, and ran so hard, it was like he’d been playing every week.
“I commend all my players on their professionalism they show when they are not in the team because that’s a powerful thing. It can be difficult when you are not playing, but they all work so hard, so that when their chance comes, they are ready to take it.”
He did warn about all the euphoria of moving up to seventh in the Premier League table. “If only it was a sprint, he said. “But it’s not. It’s a marathon and it’s nice to have a good start and how the team is moving forwards.
“We enjoy these moments, don’t get me wrong, but there’s always another game around the corner, so we’re looking to the next one.”
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