Burnley boss Sean Dyche pleased with performance in defeat against new Premier League leaders Manchester United

Sean DycheSean Dyche
Sean Dyche
Sean Dyche was pleased with the way his side gave Manchester United a run for their money, before the Red Devils went top for the first time at this stage of the season since Sir Alex Ferguson's last campaign at the helm.

Burnley pushed United to the limit, in a physical encounter, but Paul Pogba showed fine technique to volley a Marcus Rashford cross goalwards, with 19 minutes to play, and his strike was deflected through Nick Pope's legs off Matt Lowton.

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The Clarets were good nuisance value, particularly in the first half, as they stepped onto United, pressing well, but the visitors took control after the break and penned Burnley in.

There was a bizarre incident in the first half when Johann Berg Gudmundsson was caught by Luke Shaw, who got the slightest touch on the ball but caught the Iceland winger above his ankle.

Play went on, and Robbie Brady clumsily brought down Edinson Cavani, with referee Kevin Friend giving Brady a yellow card and awarding a free kick.

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The incident went to VAR, who deemed Shaw's challenge was not a red card, but advised Brady's punishment be upgraded to red for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.

VAR then looked and it was decided Shaw's challenge was in the attacking phase, and Friend went back and booked Shaw, and gave Burnley a free kick.

Harry Maguire then saw a header harshly ruled out for a foul on Erik Pieters, but got away with a penalty review late on, after the ball hit his elbow.

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Dyche said: "A lot of the performance was good, I thought, we were effective, against a top side who are going very well.

"We are in good form ourselves, but they are a top side, they have some very good individuals, as well as a collective.

"I was pleased with the fact it ended as a game of similar chance levels, they score a goal from a deflection, although it's a good strike.

"If it doesn't deflect, he probably saves it.

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"We kept them to not really golden chances, and had a few ourselves, but they are good chances and that's one of the things I spoke to the players about, we are creating more chances again, a better quality of chance, but you have to find the key moments in the top third of the pitch and we didn't quite do that.

"Other parts of the game were very pleasing."

Dyche has long been a fan of VAR, and remains so, despite continuing issues with its use: "I think the way VAR is being used, it can still be improved. I like the idea of it, but I still think it can be streamlined a little bit.

"It still is a decision-making business though, and I saw a handball earlier in the game before - I don't know how that's a penalty, and they gave it.

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"Tonight I think our VAR moment was more about the incident with the tackle and foul by Robbie Brady.

"Awkward in the sense of two moments in one, but I don't think it needs the ref to see the monitor, it's clear as day it was a foul on Johann Gudmundsson, and probably on another day he could be in trouble with that.

"I don't want players in trouble, and we have to be careful with how flimsy the game is getting, but equally it is a tackle that on another day could be a sending off."

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