Clarets fully deserved victory - Dyche

Burnley went into the game third, after Brighton's Friday night win over Fulham, and another late show for Middlesbrough at Bolton.

But George Boyd gave them the advantage at the break, and although Jacques Maghoma levelled matters, Andre Gray netted the winner - his 24th goal of the season.

And Dyche said: "I didn't think we were under the cosh too much, we have a good control to our performances, and I thought there was a lot of good play and we came out worthy winners for a reason.

"Playing away from home is always different, home players react differently to that challenge, and they came out a bit more today, from what they have done for a lot of the season, and we felt that would happen - I was here on Tuesday and felt that would happen after the second half.

"So we were very pleased with the tactical scenario the players delivered.

"There was a great resilience, a great energy to it, a good understanding of the tactics, moments of quality."

He enjoyed both goals, the results of some fine, incisive football: "The first goal is a really good goal, the passing and the movement that afforded Boydy the chance and a great finish.

"The second one again. You think Boydy is playing on the right and he ends up in the left slot, which shows the freedom I talk about, he clips a fine cross in for Andre to finish.

"Lloyd (Dyer)had come on and put three great crosses in to cause trouble. Barnesy has got in behind for a big chance which goes into the side netting, there’s a number of good chances from good play today.

"I want the team to play mixed football and I want them to affect the game in as many ways as they can and we're showing we can do that."

Gray is in line for the Player of the Year prize at tomorrow night's Football League awards in Manchester, and Dyche said: "He's deserved another one, he keeps just getting in there and doesn't do disappointments - neither do any of us, as you saw with the reaction to them scoring - and he's a constant threat.

"I was a centre half and there's nothing worse than marking a player and thinking 'he's quiet' and then he goes bang!

"What was that all about?

"When you think of the business model of the club, we'll bring in what we've spent, he has pretty good stats compared to most of the market, so we're pretty happy with that business."

And he was delighted with Boyd, who scored the opener and got an assist for the winner: "Boydy was excellent, he scored one, he created one, and he was tireless in his work.

"Some of his quality - there were so many good things.

"When you get the clarity of a performance like that, they know, the social media, the results, the noise, they're not stupid, and when you get that clarity of performance, particularly after the knock of their goal - they had a lot of balls going into the box, but not really an effort, and one comes off the keeper, and they follow it up...

"The response to that was excellent, we had two or three good chances after that."

Joey Barton was withdrawn at the break, as Dyche explained: "He got a tight calf just before half time. He’s old enough to make good decision,l he knows his own body, he said it wasn’t quite right and I thought Jonah was brilliant when he came on."

Sam Vokes missed out with a groin problem, and Dyche added: "We made a big decision on him, he was close today, so we think there’s a strong chance he’ll be right for Tuesday