We deserved it - Burnley boss Dyche after victory over Champions

George Boyd’s volley fired Burnley to within a point of safety, earning a fourth point off Manuel Pellegrini’s side this season.

And Dyche said: “I think it was deserved overall, we edged it. It was a close game, why wouldn’t it be against players of that calibre?

“Obviously we are delighted with the outcome and the performance.

“I think, whoever you play, the margins are tight, and we’ve been the wrong side of them, undeservedly so, at times, whether it’s a decision, a loose not of play in the box, or not taken our chances.

“Today all the details were done properly and correctly, no need for fortune or luck. It encapsulated all our hard work, concentration and focus we put on the details, but also I think the players are improving, growing and learning at this level.

“It doesn’t guarantee the future, but there is growth in the players.

“My job is to see beyond the results which don’t go your way, and see are the players still improving? Is there room for more?

“But this reinforces all the good work that is done.”

There were hearts in mouths late on when Pablo Zabaleta appeared to be brought down in the box by Ben Mee, but Andre Marriner, who had a mixed evening, booked the Argentine for diving.

Dyche hadn’t had a clear view of the incident: “I haven’t seen it yet, but if there’s balance over a season, maybe that’s it, we’ve had ones which haven’t been given. Some are given, some go against you, but the way they were saying, they felt it was a penalty.

“If it was, it’s good fortune for us on this occasion.”

He brought in Michael Duff and Sam Vokes for Michael Keane and Michael Kightly - Vokes making his first league start in almost a year, and he explained: “I just felt, the margins are tight when you pick a side, and there was a lot made over me picking the same side.

“But I felt the side was operating in the right fashion, and I don’t think it wasn’t particularly operating in not the right fashion, I just felt, if you always do what you’ve always done, you get what you’ve always got, and we weren’t winning, so at some point you have to make a change that can affect the team.

“I always process the information at hand with my staff and make the decision, today it worked and the players who came in gave good performances.”