Nicky Hayen’s successor faces a big mentality problem

Whoever replaces Nicky Hayen in the Turf Moor dugout faces one major hurdle in turning around Burnley’s fortunes.

While Hayen paid the ultimate price with his job at the weekend, after winning just one of his 12 league games, it’s clear the problems at Burnley go well beyond the manager.

Hayen admitted as much himself after Saturday’s 4-1 humbling at Lincoln City, where the Clarets once again squandered the lead to lose.

It means Burnley have now lost an eye-opening 18 points from winning positions already this season. Add those 18 points to their meagre eight-point tally and they would be top of the Championship table.

Clearly there’s a huge mentality problem within the squad that means as soon as they suffer the slightest setback, they’re simply unable to pick themselves back up.

“I think that's the truth of what you say and it's another lead that we've had already a lot this season,” Hayen said in his last post-match press conference as Burnley boss.

“You feel that the confidence goes down when we concede a goal, instead of stepping up and taking responsibility and changing the mentality.

“We start to struggle and instead of taking some risk in passing, we want to play to protect it and to secure goals, and then you don't make the opponent difficult.”

Conceding the most basic of goals has been another major drawback this season. It’s no wonder no other team has shipped as many as the Clarets, 12 games in.

A clear example of Burnley’s defensive frailties came at Sincil Bank on Saturday, where they allowed the ball to bounce twice in their own box before Ben House stabbed home the Imps’ equaliser.

“It's a combination of responsibility,” Hayen explained.

“I think it's not the first time, especially that throw-in, no-one touches the ball, it goes to second post. We don't react soon enough or fast enough, and there's someone on the second post who makes the easiest goal in his life.

“That's the situation we're in at the moment, it's not the first time this season and I hope it was the last one.

“But even in the second half, we gave it way too easy. I think also the third goal, we just had to clear the ball, we put it right on the 18-yard box, clear shot, clear open shot, and then you're in a situation where it's really difficult.”