Dyche bemons gap in class

A brace from former Barcelona, Internazionale and Chelsea frontman Samuel Eto’o and a goal from £28m Belgian Romelu Lukaku condemned the Clarets to a fifth league defeat.

Danny Ings had equalised in the first half with his first Premier League goal, but Dyche admitted: “It was a very challenging game against a fine side, decided more or less once again on high-quality players doing what they do.

“That was their clinical edge against ours, and they showed more sign of it over the game.

“Generally our performance was good, I felt, particularly in the first half.

“I thought some of our football was very good, the will and demand to play, but also create chances, was there, but that clinical side of the game is definitely where it’s at for us at the moment.

“You see a fine player, who’s been a fine player, Eto’o, with two fantastic finishes, and Lukaku gets a bit of a lucky one, if I’m honest, it lands perfectly for him after a couple of challenges from Shacks and Wardy and bobbles in.

“But they are high-quality players, and they are aware of that.

“Its important we keep learning and improving and moving forward, that’s the challenge we’ve got.”

Everton were allowed to pass the ball under little pressure for their first two goals, as Burnley looked to retain their shape, but Dyche pointed out: “The first goal comes out of a big kick down the pitch, it was just a bit naive from Ingsy because of our honesty, because he’s fouled and he stays on his feet, they clear it, get a touch, break down one side, and we never really dealt with it at source.

“That was the only thing I was really annoyed with, I believe if you make three mistakes on the trot, it invariably ends in trouble.

“The second was good play from their point of view, there’s a stroke of luck at the end when it lands for Lukaku, but it was clever play from very good players.

“The third is a bit of individual class, he turns with no other thought in his mind than to find the corner, a fantastic finish.

“Its the reality of where we’re at.

“I think Lukaku was £28m, he’s obviously got a bit, and then you’ve got Eto’o for him to learn from.

“And he’s got a bit, so that’s the challenge.”