Arfield praises a ‘complete performance’

The Scottish midfielder scored twice to put the Clarets in control against the lowly Londoners, before strikers Andre Gray and Sam Vokes rounded off proceedings.

Burnley had gone three games without a goal, and six without a win, but Arfield said: “We dominated, especially in the second half, and it probably could have been more.

“We limited them to very few chances as well.”

Crucially, Arfield gave Burnley the lead a minute before the break, and he admitted: “I think it kind of set us up.

“You could hear the noise levels of the crowd. Maybe it was a bit up in the air. But we always look a threat going forward and I think it took that goal to kind of settle us down before half-time.

“And the second half was probably the best we’ve played this season – the full backs getting forward, the wingers coming in and Deano (Marney) and Joey (Barton) dominating the game. It was probably the best we’ve played in terms of that 45 minutes.

“It was a complete performance.”

And the former Huddersfield man felt the question marks over the side after their winless run were harsh, bearing in mind the run of fixtures: “A lot was made of not winning in six games but we’ve played against some hard teams.

“Brighton at home, we probably should have won that one, but I think in this league you need to stay in the bunch.

“We know how hard it is to get out of the division, so there was no issue for us.

“We know exactly what we’ve got in there and it was only a matter of time from the first day of the season to now that we were going to have a performance as dominant as that. We knew it was just around the corner.

“Hopefully it sets us up to go and do that again.”

Next up is a trip to promotion rivals Hull City on Boxing Day, and Arfield added: “Boxing Day is a massive game, as they all are over the festive period, the 26th and 28th, with the games you play.

“December’s a massive month in terms of the season overall.

“I think it’s brilliant for us to go to Hull for a massive game there and hopefully get three points.

“Hull had probably a mixed season but they’ve got a fantastic squad.

“They show how difficult it is for the teams coming down, but if you stay together and adopt the performances like we had in the second half it stands us in good stead.”

There is competition throughout the squad at a testing time of the season, as Arfield noted: “As soon as you get that jersey you want to keep in there. I think the gaffer would rather have this than 11 certainties.”