Talking points from Burnley’s superb win at West Ham

Burnley extended their excellent form at West Ham last night.
Erik PietersErik Pieters
Erik Pieters

Here are a few thoughts and talking points.

Still going strong

After the win at Crystal Palace last week, Sean Dyche was asked about the prospects of a return to Europe.

Dyche, as ever, was bound by reality and, losing players left, right and centre to injury, on top of those who left at the end of their contracts, he said: "It's probably one of those things that's awkward right now because of the player situation.

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"If we had the players with us, I think we could go even stronger to the end of the season, because everyone knows we're physically very fit and sharp, and that's been on show."

But his remaining players continue to confound his wisdom.

Knowing Dyche, it certainly wasn't reverse psychology, just common sense.

However, two games on, and four points better off, Burnley are still very much in the race for another European tour, three points behind Wolves in sixth, with four to play.

And next up at Turf Moor? The men from Molineux.

Admittedly, the next game doesn’t get any more difficult, at Anfield with the champions looking to maintain their perfect record on home soil.

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But the Clarets could conceivably pick up a good tally of points from their final three games.

Regardless of whether they can earn a return to Europe or not, their efforts this season are every bit as admirable as two years ago.

2020 vision

It may have gone unnoticed elsewhere, but only champions Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal have collected more Premier League points than Burnley this calendar year.

2020 didn’t start well, with the disappointing home defeat to Aston Villa, followed by the 3-0 reverse at Chelsea - when, remarkably, some sections of the support were wondering whether Sean Dyche’s time in charge was coming to an end.

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But since then, the Clarets have lost just one of 12 Premier League games - the 5-0 defeat at Manchester City in the first game of Project Restart.

Dyche was manager of the month for February, and his side have collected 25 points from 42 so far this year, only bettered by Arsenal (26), City (28) and Jürgen Klopp’s title winners (37).

That sequence is all the more staggering taking into account the challenges Dyche has faced along the way with injuries and contract situations, and to maintain the standards set since January either side of a three-month break for a global pandemic speaks volumes about the ethos and culture at the club.

The big hitters may have world-class talent in abundance to call upon, at least two players for every position, but Burnley have produced this run of results by leaning on Dyche’s framework, team ethic and the fact everyone knows their roles down to the nth degree.

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They are the very epitome of a team, that equates to more than the sum of its parts.

Away form

While Burnley’s form, in general, is excellent, again, it has gone under the radar, that their away form is vastly improved,

The struggles of the first season back in the Premier League, where the first win on the road came in April at the penultimate attempt, are long gone.

The Clarets would be 10th in the table based on home form, and, remarkably, seventh on their away form, with six wins and four draws from 17 games.

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Indeed, they have won four of their last six away games, at Manchester United, Southampton, Crystal Palace and West Ham.

Their form in the capital has been hugely boosted over the last 10 days. Before the win at Crystal Palace, they had won three of 30 games in London, and have now won two in just over a week!

Winning the games that matter

A win is a win is a win, so the saying goes. But Burnley have a nice habit of winning the games that go a long way towards securing their place in the Premier League.

While wins against the big six have been scarce in the last two seasons, beating only Spurs last term at Turf Moor, and Manchester United at Old Trafford this, they regularly come out on top against the sides traditionally not as strong as the elite.

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Of the Clarets’ 14 wins this term, 12 have come against sides currently in the bottom half, with three draws and three defeats.

The other two? The turning point of the season at home to Leicester, and that famous night at the Theatre of Dreams.

Pieters the man for all positions

Journalist Richard Jolly noted at the weekend, half tongue in cheek, that Erik Pieters was Burnley’s Bukayo Saka.

The 18-year-old has emerged under Mikel Arteta at Arsenal, playing left back, right of a front three, and left midfield.

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Pieters has done similar for Burnley - recognised as a left back, he was pushed on one by Sean Dyche with the squad stretched, and he has since swapped to the right of midfield, popping up centrally, and even off the front.

It is one thing to ‘do a job’ for the team, but the Dutchman has done more than put in a shift, he has shown different skill sets, an impressive understanding of the tactical plan and the way the game has developed, and might have nicked a goal or two.

Dutch football has been renowned for ‘total football’, after the Ajax and national side of the 1970s, when players were so adaptable, they were comfortable in any position, maintaining the team’s structure.

And Pieters is clearly of that stock. A willing runner, strong in the tackle, more than comfortable in possession, and with the understanding to slot into any gaps that need filling.

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Little wonder that Dyche has marvelled at his professionalism. Another canny signing, who is far more than meets the eye - and a smashing bloke to boot, who you want to see do well!

Wood sharpening up

Chris Wood came on for his 100th Premier League appearance at West Ham, with West Brom, Leicester and Burnley.

In that time, he has 32 goals - an impressive strike rate.

It is even more impressive against the Hammers, having scored in all five of his previous appearances, claiming six goals.

And he could have had a hat-trick after replacing Matej Vydra around the hour, looking far sharper and much more of a threat than he did in his first outing of the restart against Sheffield United.

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He had an improvised flick saved by Lukasz Fabianski, and had another effort disallowed for a tight off-side call, before showing his movement and power, racing onto a ball from Charlie Taylor before driving at Issa Diop and forcing another save.

While Vydra has done well, without being able to take some golden chances, any side would miss their top-scorer, and Wood now has a battle on with Jay Rodriguez- a goal behind on 10 - as serious competition for the club’s golden boot.

How good has Rodriguez been by the way? Everyone admired his technique and work rate, but he is an outstanding all-round forward, the ability to press hard from the front, to hold the ball up and bring others into play, to spread and link play, and get on the end of things.

He can score from distance, go past defenders, and his aerial ability is as good as Wood or Ashley Barnes, as seen since lockdown with two majestic headers to beat Watford and West Ham.

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Listening to Radio 5 Live on the way home and hearing pundit Charlie Adam talk about how much it costs to buy a striker who can get double figures at this level - Burnley have three who have done it time and again, and Vydra potentially could follow suit in time.