I was really pleased with the calmness from everyone
Burnley came from behind to beat Rochdale 4-1 last night but the performance from the League Two club delighted their manager Robbie Stockdale.
“I feel pride in a lot of our performance,” he said. “I thought we more than held our own for a large part of the game, probably until sixty minutes when the second goal went in. We gave them problems with our ability to keep the ball and we scored a really good goal.
“But it’s relentless, you’re playing against Premier League players and the pressures that they put you under is constant. It was a great learning curve for our players, especially the younger ones.
“The scoreline probably flatters them a little bit. I hope other people see that as well because for a large period were very good. We were brave. We were brave in possession and we were brave out of possession, and then we scored a goal from front foot pressing and it was a really good finish.
“If we can see that out for another 10 minutes or so it gives them a problem and their manager is going to put their big players on, but we just couldn’t do that and that’s the unfortunate thing, but I don’t take anything away from lots of our performance being really positive.
“You get beat 4-1, and I’m not stood here saying we deserved to win the game or anything like that, but we’re just disappointed that we let the game drift away from us a touch.
“I was pleased with us. Before the game and I reiterated it at half-time, I said that there were going to be some painful moments tonight, and there are going to be moments where you look at your pal next to you and really dig in. It’s always difficult, goals change games and the momentum got away from us a little bit. If you think back to me speaking to you after the first game at Harrogate to where we are now, it’s chalk and cheese.
“We’re disappointed to concede from set plays but it’s the quality of the ball in and the quality of the movement which we don’t come across at our level. So, again, a really good learning curve and I’m sure that we will be better for it.”
Sean Dyche first pointed to his goal scorer. “I am pleased for Jay,” he said. “He has come back for pre-season really fit and has obviously looked after himself. Jay looked really good particularly second half, with his movement and spending more time in the box, so I’m pleased for him.
“His movement was good second half across the front. We know he can head the ball well, good delivery went in as well. Strikers need goals and thrive on that, so we want him to react from that and grow from it. We have made a reasonable amount of chances this season, but taking them like that gives the whole group belief.”
Dyche also made comment on Maxwel Cornet. “It was really important to get minutes into his legs. The Premier League, with all due respect, is a quicker tempo than that. You don’t always have as much possession as we had tonight, but of course he has to adapt to this level.
“Some of his movement for was very good, and he stretched the pitch as well. His defensive side still needs work, but he created five or six chances, which is pleasing.”
Dyche added: “I was really pleased with the calmness from everyone. They get a goal, which I think is a foul to be honest, but it doesn’t get given, and they nick a goal out of nothing. We were super calm. And I thought the stadium was too, so fair play to the fans because we have had a tough start.”
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