I have been so proud of the teams I’ve worked with here
Burnley won a point in a 2-2 draw against West Brom and that was a result that left both managers happy.
West Brom boss Tony Pulis admitted: “You have to defend well here but when Burnley went ahead it was the first time we looked exposed on that side of the pitch. Jonny (Evans) had just come off and we looked a little bit disjointed and they obviously scored a goal and it gives you a kick.
“But the character of the players after that was absolutely fantastic. They could easily have turned it in. The disappointing thing is when we get our noses in front, they come back and get a goal from a set play.”
“They get so many balls in the box that you are going to make mistakes at times. Should Gareth (McAuley) have just headed it away and not let Ben (Foster) get involved? I’m not sure but we are what we are. Gareth and Ben have been brilliant all season. The lads are disappointed with the goal but overall, we’re very pleased.”
With safety just about secured, Sean Dyche said he was a proud man when he spoke after the game. “It’s hard to find a balance of thoughts, but I am very proud,” he said.
“The Premier League is so unforgiving and we’ve had a tickle this year by spending some money. The wage bill isn’t massive, but the club is in great shape and if you add all that in, then it’s a great achievement.
“Equally, you could look at coming out of the Championship twice in three years, so it’s hard. I think there will be a time to reflect, but at the minute I’m just pleased to have another point on the board and, other than a 20-goal swing, it allows us to breath as little easier going into the next two games.”
He added: “Over the four and a half years that I’ve been here we’ve always had something to fight for and that’s a great achievement in itself for my staff and players. The Board have stood by me as well, when we’ve had a few knocks along the way, and I think it’s paid them back as well, for the way we have all been aligned with our thinking for what Burnley Football Club stands for.”
The point took us to 40 for the season and he said: ““It’s fair to say that with a marker of 40 points, which everyone talks about, then we are almost there. We’re in good shape with two games left and I am delighted with the performance of the players today because that was a hard-fought point.
“I was scratching my head how we were 2-1 down and I am particularly pleased with the mentality of the players, not only today but over the season.
“At the start of the season we were given no chance at all, and here we are with 40 points and two games to go. There is a lot of growth in the side and I am very pleased with them, for what they have achieved. But there is still work to do in the next two games. We have a good mentality going down the season and we want to take on these next two games and see where it takes us.”
There was special praise for the two central defenders too, Kevin Long and James Tarkowski. “There are so many pleasing aspects. I don’t usually talk about individuals but Kevin has hardly played all season, other than cameos on the bench, but he’s kept training properly in the right manner he was fantastic today.
“I have been so proud of the teams I’ve worked with here and not only the starting eleven. The way the players who are not playing every week conduct themselves is an absolute credit to themselves professionally and I thought that was on show, because when you are called upon in this game, you have to be ready.
“Kevin is a credit to himself first and foremost because he has looked after himself, and Tarky is very similar. He’s been knocking on the door and we’ve got him on sometimes, particularly sitting in midfield, but he has delivered again today and so the two of them have been fantastic, without a shadow of a doubt.
“I must also give a big mention to Sam, who was outstanding last week and again today. Not just his goals, but he’s found that edge in his game and when he is playing like that he is a real handful and a top striker, as everyone saw today.”
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