‘We deserved it’ - Burnley boss Dyche

Sean Dyche felt a point was the least his side deserved in the end against champions Cardiff.
Sean Dyche.Sean Dyche.
Sean Dyche.

David Edgar headed a late equaliser against the Bluebirds, who needed just a draw to seal the Championship title.

It was a huge goal for the Clarets, who were staring at a third successive 1-0 defeat, but are now virtually assured of second tier football again next season.

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And Dyche looked back on another tense afternoon at Turf Moor: “We could have won it.

“Their keeper made a fantastic save and there was a maybe penalty decision.

“Pato’s (Martin Paterson) had one from close range and just got under it.

“But overall you’d take a point against a team that’s just won the Championship because they’re obviously a very good side – they’ve proved it all season.”

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Dyche made a double change at half-time, hauling off wide men Junior Stanislas and Ross Wallace and bringing on Paterson and Edgar to go 4-3-3.

It led to an improved showing, although it remained a scrappy display: “We had a chat at half-time and told the lads to relax and play with that freedom and that energy.

“It’s more difficult than people think – you’ve got a crowd expecting and an opposition who are the market leaders, and I knew Malky (Mackay) would go hard, I knew their team wouldn’t just back off.

“They’ve got some real talent there.

“It was more a case of telling them to relax and play with energy.

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“There were a couple of tactical changes and obviously one of them worked nicely and Ed’s popped up with a fantastic goal.

“I just felt in the second half we found that energy and effervescence and also that freedom to play a bit more.

“There were some good moments of quality and some pockets of play in the second half.”

He added: “The energy was missing and sometimes changes bring that.

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“We know that Pato’s got energy and he went about it in the right way and gave that little spark.

“Sometimes people think I don’t want to run and someone play it round me and (you) look silly.

“It can all leak in.

“I thought we kept the ball reasonably well at times and still managed to play out from the back at times and kept them to minimal (chances) in the second half and made a few chances ourselves.

“There were some real positives in the second half and something to show that we can do it and show that we can build on for the next one.”

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Dyche took over from Mackay at Watford, having been his assistant, so he was naturally delighted for his good friend: “They were at the hotel I was in on Friday night so I took him a little half a lager shandy!

“They’ll probably pop in our room for a bit and then they’ll be getting away.

“I’m sure he’ll be seeing his family for a few days. Even when you’re up there every part of the season you’re in, whatever part of the league you’re in, it takes a lot of your life and Malky’s given a lot of his this season. He’s deserving of a few days’ downtime.”

Having teams celebrate on your own turf isn’t a pleasant experience, and Dyche said: “I’ve done it myself – I’ve been in a team that’s celebrated four times in my life with four promotions.

“I’ve been there.

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“And I’ve been there other one once sitting in the other dressing room.

“They’ve done a great job, Malky, his troops, his staff, his players have done a fantastic job.”

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