Sunday 14 December 2014 07:24, UK
Burnley manager Sean Dyche believes his players deserved their luck in the 1-0 Premier League victory over Southampton.
Ashley Barnes’ deflected shot was enough to hand the Clarets all three points at Turf Moor but not before Tom Heaton dramatically saved Dusan Tadic’s second-half penalty.
And Dyche, whose side moved out of the relegation zone, was full of praise his side’s belief and work rate as they pressed Southampton from the front all afternoon.
“We are back on the front foot and the goal earns us that because we believe in that way of playing, we know we’ve got the fitness to carry it out, we know we can play from a good shape and a good tactical understanding with the players,” he told Sky Sports.
“And it’s that belief in how the team operates. We got a goal from Ingsy’s good press, Barnsey’s nice and alive and we get that lucky little deflection to get us a goal.
“We haven’t had too many scratches of luck so we’ll take that one.”
Burnley have played with two strikers up front for the majority of the season and it certainly paid off with Danny Ings and Barnes proving a real handful for Southampton.
But Dyche reserved plenty of acclaim for his midfielders contribution to the system.
He added: “I think the best thing we’ve got our midfield understand the demand of the team so they don’t make any big drama over it.
“They understand often they are playing two against three but they do get the belief from the centre-forwards. Barnsey will drop in , Ingsy will drop in so they do their bit.
“We want to be bold in our play and the best way to do that, I believe, is to have two centre-forwards on the pitch. I was a centre-half, trust me, it’s harder to play against two forwards than it is against one in my opinion.”
Dyche also reserved a special mention for goalkeeper Heaton after his second-half penalty stop denied Tadic and helped earn Burnley a third win of the season.
The 28-year-old has now saved three of the last six penalties he has faced and Dyche believes he is building a reputation as a high class keeper.
“He’s developing the reputation of a very good goalkeeper,” he added.
“I don’t just think it’s about penalty stops. Five clean sheets in the Premier League in 15, for a club that’s had a tough time of it, I think, is outstanding.
“He’s played a big part in that.”
