We could have won the game - Dyche

Joe Cole gave Villa the lead just before the break, before Danny Ings levelled matters late on from the spot with his fourth league goal in five games, after Lukas Jutkiewicz was brought down in the area.

Burnley had chances to go on and grab a second, with Ings hitting the post and Jutkiewicz heading agonisingly wide, and Dyche said: “In the end, with the chances we created, you’re scratching your head at how we didn’t win it.

“But, on balance, it’s fair to say it was a close affair.

“Villa are certainly not a team that are broken, I’m sure of that, there’s plenty of energy, a belief in them and some good players.

“I thought they came on really strong first half and it was not a surprise, but Ian Holloway said last year we have a strong chin, and although it’s harder in this division, that was on show again.

“The mentality of the players, the quality - the mix was right, particularly in the last 10/15 minutes.

“That’s the moment we should have won it.”

Burnley were looking for a third straight win in the top flight for the first time in 40 years, and Dyche added: “I’ve been pleased with all the group, it’s the demand of the players and staff combined, and I’ve enjoyed that, certainly in the last two games and here.

“The mentality is clear and some of the chances we created were golden, which is hard to do in the Premier League. We just have to take them now.”