CLARETS reporter Tyrone Marshall discusses the talking points from Burnley's Premier League defeat to Chelsea.

BRITTLE BURNLEY

After a bright first 10 minutes hopes were high that Burnley were going to compete with Chelsea and perhaps even get a result.

The game had been played almost entirely in the visitors’ half and the Clarets were moving the ball around well.

But Chelsea’s movement and passing angles were causing trouble as well and as soon as Burnley went behind they crumbled.

By the end of this demolition those first 10 minutes felt so distant they could easily have been from another game, rather from the one still unfolding in front of us.

After a terrible start to the season Burnley have steadied the ship recently, but they remain brittle and once the momentum stalled against Chelsea it never looked like returning.

BRADY’S BACK

One of very few positives for Burnley in this defeat was the return of Robbie Brady. It’s been a long road to recovery for the Republic of Ireland winger, who was last seen for the first team being stretchered off with a serious knee injury at Leicester on December 2.

There have been numerous minor injuries that have delayed a return this season but finally the £13million man was back in action.

It was a game against Chelsea at Turf Moor in February 2017 that Brady introduced himself to the Clarets faithful with a stunning free-kick and before his injury last season he was showing his best form for Burnley.

They’ve missed him since, struggling for creativity at times, so to see him back in action was a major boost, even if this wasn’t his best display.

JOE HART

This was another busy afternoon for Burnley’s goalkeeper. Joe Hart is being given the chance to impress and he’s grasping it, his reputation well on the way to being restored.

The signing of Hart was greeted with bemusement by many. It’s not so long ago that even a lot of Burnley supporters were wondering why he was starting in place of Tom Heaton.

As harsh as it feels on the luckless Heaton, there can’t be many questions remaining now. Hart made some fine saves against Chelsea and he’s looking more like the goalkeeper that won 75 caps for England by the week, rather than the one who so struggled at West Ham last season. He’ll return to the London Stadium next week determined to prove a point.

STOPPING THE BIG SIX

How do you do it? It’s becoming an increasingly difficult task for the rest of the Premier League.

Sean Dyche always says that you need everything to go for you on days like this. If Chelsea are at their best, which they were, then Burnley have no chance, even if they’re at their best, which they weren’t.

The gap only seems to be widening. The big six have always had access to the most resources, which often brings the best players.

But were they’ve improved in recent seasons is recruiting the best managers. Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp and Maurizio Sarri are bringing a lot to the Premier League, they are managers who improve their players and who play thrilling football. It is great to watch, but it’s increasingly difficult to stop.

FINDING A FORMULA IN ATTACK

Sam Vokes has rocketed back up the pecking order for Burnley this season and his form was rewarded with a new three-year deal on Friday.

But the sense remains that Dyche is still looking to find the right formula in attack this season.

At the start of the campaign few would have expected Vokes to be the line leader at this stage of the season.

Ashley Barnes finished last season well but hasn’t yet fired this term, while Matej Vydra, an £11million addition in August, hasn’t yet been given a consistent chance to shine.

Chris Wood has also struggled to find the form that propelled him to 10 goals in 20 Premier League starts last season.

Vokes is the man in possession at the moment, but he struggled to make an impact against Chelsea. Dyche has options in attack, but right now it’s difficult to now what the right formula is.