Dyche Happy With Villa Point

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2020-12-17T18:45:00.000Z

Dyche Happy With Villa Point

2020-12-17T18:45:00.000Z

Dyche: A Foundation To Build From - Image 2

Sean Dyche was happy to bag a point at Aston Villa to add to the memorable win at Arsenal.

A second clean sheet on the road – and fourth in five away games – secured a draw against a Villa side that failed to make the most of their second half dominance.

Nick Pope was a safe pair of hands throughout, with a “world class” save denying Anwar El Ghazi’s dipping free kick the highlight.

And with the defence again in thou-shalt-not pass mode, Burnley dug deep to again haul themselves out of the bottom three.

“They created a few chances; more in the second half and we defended very well, I thought, so I am pleased with the point overall,” said Clarets boss Dyche.

“It comes on the back of three pleasing points at Arsenal and perhaps that had an effect tonight because we put an awful lot into that performance, so I am not going to over-think tonight too much, when you pick up four points and two clean sheets against Arsenal and Aston Villa.

“That’s nine points from six games now and four clean sheet in our last five away games and it’s clear to see that the basics of what we do; the energy of the side, the commitment to the cause and also the shape have been better.

“We are searching for the balance now and we have to find that attacking element to our game.

“We’ve found, over the seasons, that we can be an attacking force, but we’re not quite firing at the moment in that zone, and our job is to make it happen.

“Sometimes, players find it tougher to play with freedom in a dry spell. They have a job to do for the team, but we want them to play a bit looser, and when they get tight, they don’t always find that free-flowing eye for seeing things quickly.

“We have four decent strikers and they will find a way, but it’s not just the strikers. by the way.

“Let’s not forget they have a team behind them. We ask a lot of our strikers defensively, so it’s fair to say they have to ask a lot from the rest of the team to score goals as well.”

Burnley twice came close to breaking the deadlock in the first half, when Chris Wood’s firm header was well saved by Emiliano Martinez, then when Ashley Westwood came close with a delightful first time effort that curled just wide of the post.

And at the other end, Pope’s stunning save; fingertipping El Ghazi’s 25 yard free kick onto the crossbar, was one of two occasions when the hosts struck the woodwork.

Dyche purred: “It was world class. I don’t use my words lightly, and a lot of what he had to do tonight was handled well for a goalkeeper of Nick’s quality, but that is above and beyond.

“It’s a top, top save and along with the defensive unit, he’s playing really well.”