BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche praised his side’s defensive display as they again stopped one of the Premier League big boys from finding the net at Turf Moor yesterday.
The Clarets recorded a second successive clean sheet on home soil to draw 0-0 against a Tottenham side captained by in-form England striker Harry Kane, three weeks after a 1-0 victory over Manchester City.
Manchester United also failed to score at Turf Moor earlier in the season and Dyche was pleased with the Clarets’ performance against Spurs – shrugging off the fact that his side have scored only once in five games at the other end of the field.
“You can equally say it’s two clean sheets in the last three games against some fantastic sides, it depends whether your cup’s half full or half empty,” he said.
“I was pleased with the fact it’s another clean sheet. You look at the amount they spend on talent to be progressive themselves and we really kept them to minimal chances of any note.
“I was pleased with the framework and energy of the side.
“I don’t think it was just the centre halves, the framework of the team was very good, the will to press, we like to play on the front foot, we want to be progressive in the way we play and upset teams in order to win.
“Endeavour has to be there in order to do that, it can’t just be quality. I thought that was absolutely evident and I think our fans responded to that, they see a group of people giving absolutely everything to be in the Premier League.
“These are big games, against high quality opposition. They had four players in the England side. They spent a couple of hundred million quid on their players.
“We’re not just competing, we’re earning the right but we want to continue to do that to be in the Premier League.”
Dyche, who was without Ross Wallace because of a knock and Steven Reid because of a minor calf problem, felt a draw was probably a fair result on the day.
“I think we edged the game but it was a funny kind of game,” he said.
“I think the weather played its part, it’s hard on that turn of the weather when it’s been freezing cold and then suddenly the sun shines.
“I thought we progressed through that and kept the tempo and the pressing high and I was really pleased with the lads’ performance.
“I think we edged it overall, we didn’t take all three but certainly deserving of a point, that’s for sure.
“Danny (Ings) had a great chance, and it was unlike him not to put that away, he’s almost hit it too clean. They’re the ones you want to drag a little bit or mis-shape into the corner.
“Then he’s made the keeper work for another one and Boydy had a chance at the end.
“Sometimes you just need that scratch of luck and that one to fall right for you, and you win a match.”
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