Manager Sean Dyche felt that Burnley were unlucky not to open 2016 with victory following the weekend’s draw with Ipswich Town.
Hosting Mick McCarthy’s side at Turf Moor for the first game of the New Year, Dyche was somewhat befuddled by the decision of the referee to chalk off Ben Mee’s headed effort in the 39th minute of the game, because he knows had that stood – with how the rest of the game played out – it would’ve returned the win everybody wanted.
The referee ruled it out for a so called push on the keeper – apparently.
Speaking to the Official Site in his after game press interviews, a slightly frustrated gaffer explained.
‘It was a scruffy game I felt, and a good performance in the sense that we were playing an in-form side who have just won five on the spin away from home. They are no mugs and they grind games out, working from their shape and getting the ball forward at every opportunity. I felt we dealt with that well and had some good moments ourselves. We didn`t create enough in the end and I will say it was a hard afternoon for Andre Gray, who didn`t get a lot today, I`d suggest.’
As for the disallowed goal, Dyche was trying to avoid controversy and when asked about that particular incident, he said.
‘I try not to get too involved with referees, so I`ll let others decide that. But I`ve had a good look at the goal that was disallowed. There are two of their defenders in there screening with our two forwards, and there is minimal contact on the keeper. He gets penned in by their own two men, so I am disappointed in that decision. With all those things considered, to come away with a nice clean sheet – our ninth of the season and third in four games – means we are making this a tough place to come.’
With midfielder Dean Marney missing from the match, the gaffer confirmed that he had picked up a calf ‘niggle’ and he was quick to turn the conversation back to the positives that could be taken from the scoreless encounter.
‘On reflection it`s another point on the board and another clean sheet, with some positives to come out of it, so we move forwards. We are right in the mix and we want that challenge to stay up there and take it as far as we can. That`s the kind of mentality we have and it was on show again today. It`s very difficult to win every game, so don`t get beat and we did that today in a really tight affair.’
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