HAYEN’S POST-MATCH POINTS: WEST HAM UNITED

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Head Coach happy with team's spirit against the Hammers

2026-08-16T20:00+01:00

HAYEN’S POST-MATCH POINTS: WEST HAM UNITED

Head Coach happy with team's spirit against the Hammers

2026-08-16T20:00+01:00

Nicky Hayen was thrilled with his team's character to fight back from two nil down against West Ham in the Clarets' opening game in the Championship on Sunday.

Speaking after the match, the Burnley Head Coach said he felt his team 'didn't deserve to lose' and that they showed the energy and fight he wants to see every week.

DESERVED DRAW

“I’m really pleased with the way we fought back this afternoon. I didn’t think we deserved to lose; I think if there’s one team who deserved to win it was us. But at the end you need to be clinical in both boxes, and this is something that we didn’t do all the time, for the first 80 minutes.

“They way we played today, from the first minute we tried to dominate the game and of course you play one of the strongest opponents in the league. Maybe the biggest favourite for the title. But I thought we competed with them; we created a lot of chances. At the end we conceded two goals, but I’m really pleased with the resilience we showed.

“I was happy with the support from the fans. You felt that when we scored that first goal, that they would push us forward and that’s exactly what happened. You felt the atmosphere, the adrenaline and you felt it kept the players going.

“At the end we scored that second goal and I think it was deserved.”

STADIUM ATMOSPHERE

“I’m really delighted with how the fans supported us. We were two nil down, but we were attacking and they were still supporting us and encouraging us. This is the most important, we want to bring the energy, you don’t always have the result at the moment maybe that you deserve. But we kept on going. We brought the spark and you could hear the stadium explode.

“The second goal went in, and I think everyone went crazy. We want to bring this every game at Turf Moor.”

ASSURED PERFORMANCE FROM ALLEYNE

“He played a really good game. It was a doubt whether to start him. You see of course his qualities, and you see that he has come from City and has skills. On the other hand, he only trained once, just 24 hours before the game, so sometimes it is a risk to put someone into the team.

“He played a really mature game, made a lot of good choices today and I’m really happy that he signed for us.”

BIRTHDAY POINT

“Of course, I wanted a birthday with 3 points but if you’re two nil down and you come back it’s a happy one. It’s not the easiest team in the league; West Ham are the biggest favourites for the title so if you can show this resilience to West Ham, you can show it to everyone.

“I told the boys in the dressing room that every game will be the game of the year for the opponent, and we always have to deliver this performance every single week. It will be tough, there are no easy games in the Championship, we’re aware. But if we bring this energy every single time then we will be a hard team to beat - but only if we perform like this every time.”