Club news

Opposition View: Burnley

By James Hilsum • 29 April 2018

Burnley manager Sean Dyche admitted that his side were not at their best on Saturday, but was delighted that a draw with Brighton & Hove Albion put them on the cusp of securing a place in the Europa League next season.

The Clarets sit seventh and are six points clear of Everton with a superior goal difference, and Dyche reflected on what would be a brilliant achievement.

He said, “We've still got to make it, but if we do, then it will be a fantastic achievement.

“We weren't as good as we can be on Saturday, a long way from it at times, but the habits were there, the will to play was there, we were just short of quality.

“It's hard to sit here on a soft performance and question the players, because they've been absolutely fantastic over the season and they've earned the right to be where they are.

“You can’t cheat the points we've got on the table in the Premier League.

“You can have a lucky spell but you can't be lucky all season. It takes organisation, delivery of performance, the mentality to take on each game, and we’ve had that in abundance.”

The Burnley boss feels that despite all of Albion’s positive play, he didn’t feel that his side were seriously threatened during the game.

“I know the players can perform at a higher level, but we never really looked in any trouble. They had a really good start to the second half, and a little at the end, but they’re searching for something as well, don’t forget.

“A point to them will feel massive. Popey [Nick Pope] had one good save to make, and we haven’t questioned them much either, in what was a bit of an off game.

“It's strange that I'm questioning these things, because our season has been so strong, we just came away from what we’ve been doing.”