Dyche Backs Bailey To Deliver

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

2020-11-27T22:38:23.117Z

Dyche Backs Bailey To Deliver

2020-11-27T22:38:23.117Z

Sean Dyche has backed Bailey Peacock-Farrell to deliver if he is thrown in at the deep end at Manchester City.

The Northern Ireland international is standing by to make his Premier League debut for the Clarets, should Nick Pope fail to be given the green light to continue in goal following his bang to the head in Monday’s Turf Moor win over Crystal Palace.

And boss Dyche feels Peacock-Farrell could even add a new dynamic to the back line at a venue where Burnley have lost 5-0 on their last three visits.

Dyche said: “It can surprise you because when a new goalkeeper comes in, it’s a new voice and that can bring a new alertness to the others.

“Sometimes, with a familiar voice, you can get used to it, so that will be different with Bailey coming in.

“He is an international goalkeeper, don’t forget, and he doesn’t always have it easy on that script either.

“He is used to spells when the game gets tough and you have a defensive unit working hard in front of you.”

Peacock-Farrell has faced City already this season, in the second of his two League Cup appearances since joining from Leeds United in the summer of 2019.

And Dyche feels the 24-year-old is following a similar path to current number one Pope, who had to bide his time in the wings at Turf Moor behind fellow England goalkeeper Tom Heaton.

“Whenever Bailey has played he’s done very well, but behind the games he has been developing, for sure,” added Dyche.

“I look at the way he has been training and Billy is very pleased with him - and the group he’s got - so that bodes well.

“Bailey has been going along the same lines as Popey did, in the day. He was a slow burner, but Billy assured him of how his development was going and when his chance came around he delivered and never really looked back.

“Popey has grown and improved his vocal the organisational side of his game. We also saw that a lot with Tom Heaton over time and I think Bailey is improving that as well.

“There is always room for improvement, but we do like the clutch of goalkeepers we have and I think any of them, at any given time, could work with the defensive unit in front of them.”

City currently lie 14th in the Premier League, having failed to win their last two league games, against Liverpool and Spurs.

But Dyche expects another tough test at The Etihad, where only Leicester City have won this season in a remarkable 5-2 win that saw Pep Guardiola watch his side concede five goals for the first time ever.

“They’ve not many weaknesses, if any,” insisted Dyche. “Last season they had injuries and it was interesting to see that even for teams at that level, injuries can affect their working unit.

“They missed some really big players, and don’t get me wrong, but they have some really good players to fill their slots, so they are still a proper outfit.

“I would never take anything away from Liverpool last season because they were a machine. It’s not that City were off where they needed to be; they just couldn’t go the distance as Liverpool did.

“But they still operate in a very good manner and they all know their responsibilities, in and out of possession, so it’s always a tough ask playing these sides, but we go there open minded.

“Every game is there to be won, and that’s the way we work.

“I won’t for one minute be going into a game thinking they are not capable of creating chances.

“But equally, we go into a game thinking that if we do it right and we are a strong defensive unit, across the pitch, then we have a chance of taking on the game.”

Clarets+ has live audio commentary from The Etihad, from 2.45pm on Saturday. Why not join us on a free 30-day trial?