Dyche: A Deserved Point

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2021-03-06T16:18:00.000Z

Dyche: A Deserved Point

2021-03-06T16:18:00.000Z

Sean Dyche felt his side were worthy of at least a point in an incident-packed Turf Moor clash with Arsenal.

The Gunners led early on when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang squeezed a shot inside the near post.

But Burnley hit back before the break in bizarre circumstances when Chris Wood deflected home Granit Xhaka’s ball across the six-yard box as the visitors tried to play out from a goal kick.

PL REPORT: Burnley 1 Arsenal 1 - Image 1

And in an end-to-end second period Burnley could have won it, then might have lost it, as Chris Wood was denied by Bernd Leno, before Calum Chambers rattled the post late on.

“We’ve had to work very hard and I’m pleased in the end,” said Dyche.

“I think the mentality of the players was outstanding, as it was during the week.

“We’ve given everything to the cause and you can see at the end, where people are putting bodies on the line, what it means.

“We were very strong in the second half against Leicester and did get the win we arguably deserved.

“We looked a bit jaded today in the first half, but the marvel of half time is I could tell them we just needed 1% more effort, intent and purpose - and we came out like that.

“We created arguably the best chance of the game with good play from the front two and Woody hasn’t done a lot wrong.

“But during the end of the game, the mentality was so good, to block and do all the ugly things that are just as important as good play.”

Wood’s fifth of the season was one of the stranger goals seen at Turf Moor, as the Kiwi collected his fifth of the season by deflecting a suicidal pass across goal into the empty net.

“It’s modern football and everyone has the right to play how they wish to,” said Dyche.

“We have pressed well all day, and we’ve got our reward for putting our bodies in the way of a pass.

“It’s a goal out of nothing, but it’s not really because it’s good intent and tactical pressing from the side.”

Burnley then survived a penalty decision in the final quarter as Erik Pieters was penalised for deliberate hand ball to deny Pepe a surefire goal.

However, after referee Andre Marriner had originally red carded the Dutchman - who was fortunate not to give away a penalty in a separate hand ball incident earlier in the half - he reversed his decision and rescinded the card, following VAR confirmation that the rising shot had struck his shoulder on the goal line.

“Even from a distance, I thought it would have been harsh because the ball is going at 100 miles per hour, so it wouldn’t have been anything deliberate,” added Dyche.

“VAR clearly showed it came off his shoulder and I was just amazed that the ref had his card out within a millisecond.

“I thought he might have given himself a few seconds to think it through, but then again that’s what VAR is for and it did its job.

“I did think it was a penalty at the other end when Matej had his heels clipped, but we know our record on penalties, season on season, and if we dived and squealed more we might get more.

“However, it’s another good point and we’ve come a long way from having two points after seven games.

“I don’t believe there was any panic here, because that doesn’t serve you well.

“But the mentality of the side does, and we’ve got to go again next week, before we bizarrely have three weeks off instead of two.

“We are certainly in there fighting and delivering with performances that we think can be effective.”