Goalkeeper Tom Heaton has praised the collective spirit within the Burnley camp following our point against Middlesbrough at the weekend.
Heading to the Riverside Stadium for the game and coming home with a point and another clean sheet, Heaton was in bouyant mood as he spoke to the Official Site in his post game press conference, and the England stopper praised his colleagues for their efforts on the day.
With a number of chances for Burnley in both halves, Heaton also had to be on his toes with Alvaro Negredo’s one effort in particular to take the ninth clean sheet of the year.
‘I had a fairly quiet afternoon. It was bits and pieces and it’s about your concentration to make sure you’re ready when required. I could see the ball coming and see that it was going to go over Keano so you turn and get ready and thankfully it was within distance to get the arm down and keep it out. These moments are important but I have to say ‘massive credit to the boys.”
Heaton went on to say.
‘There were probably six other moments I could mention – Matt Lowton dropping onto the line for the free-kick, I remember a Stephen Ward block, Ben Mee, Michael Keane. There’s bodies on the line, heads on the line and as a team that’s we do. The manager talks about it a lot. With a lot of clubs I’ve been at it maybe goes a little un-noticed but here it’s valued. It’s valued very highly and I think we do it as well as I’ve seen. And today I think it’s a big reason why we got a point.’
With Robbie Brady hitting the woodwork in the first half with his free kick and a few other close opportunities for both sides, he went on to say that moving into 12th place with eight points safety to the relegation zone was certainly to be welcomed.
‘Again it was another game of fine margins. We had a few chances and they had a couple of decent chances as well. But all-in-all a very good point and a good clean sheet away from home. I’m absolutely delighted. I think that’s nine now for the season, so I’m really pleased with that and hopefully there’s a few more to come.’
He ended by saying.
‘We try not to get too distracted by the big picture. We always look at what’s right in front of us. We are looking upwards, albeit the nature of the division requires you to be aware of what’s going on and to increase that gap this weekend is important.’
