Dyche dismay at lack of penalty decision

Burnley lost 2-0 to the Saints, but, with the game goal-less, Dyche felt George Boyd was brought down by Jose Fonte, only for the referee to ignore appeals.

The Clarets have only had one spot kick all season, and have been on the wrong end of a number of decisions against West Brom and Swansea in particular, and Dyche said: “It was impossible how we didn’t get a penalty in the first half, or certainly very surprising.

“I don’t really mention it too often, but that’s the third one in a matter of weeks we haven’t had.

“I asked my players not to simulate and I think that may have to change because I must be the greenest manager in the world, looking at that.”

But he felt his players could have been ahead in any case after creating clear openings in the first period, with substitute keeper Kelvin Davis making three fine saves: “We had three absolute key chances, but we didn’t take them. They were good saves, but I played with Kelvin for a long time (at Luton) and they were saves a keeper of that calibre is expected to make.

“So I was disappointed in the finishing, because at half-time you’re scratching your head at how you’re 1-0 down.”

Dyche was pleased with the first half showing, but less so the second: “I thought they were very good in the first half, to come down with that freedom to express themselves was very good, good pockets of mixed football, which we like, affecting it in many different ways, and they get a deflected goal and you’re scratching your head at half-time.

“The crowd were nervous, you could sense it, they looked nervous with the ball, and then the second half was flat until they got a lucky break with their second goal.

“They’re a good side when they’re confident, they kept the ball and we got in the final third, but our delivery was nowhere near as good as we expect.

“We’ve been dented a few times, but we’ll be ready to go again.”