Dyche delighted with Clarets' mentality

Sean Dyche was delighted with his players' mentality as they climbed into the top half of the Premier League with a dramatic injury time winner against Crystal Palace.
Johann Berg Gudmundsson celebrates making it 2-0Johann Berg Gudmundsson celebrates making it 2-0
Johann Berg Gudmundsson celebrates making it 2-0

Burnley led 2-0 at the break after a second-minute opener from Sam Vokes, and Johann Berg Gudmundsson's first Premier League goal.

But Palace came back to level through substitute Connor Wickham and a penalty from Christian Benteke.

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However, substitute Ashley Barnes netted his first goal after an injury-hit 21 months to make it back to back home wins, and Dyche said: "Overall I think we deserved it, it was tight, but it was terrific, it's hard to make sense of it when you're operating and doing your job.

"On immediate reflection, it looks like a terrific game, for the fans, the feel of the Premier League and our part in it.

"Two sides definitely going to win, and ended up in a proper ding dong - not old-fashioned blood and guts, but real quality as well.

"From our side, I thought we did very well first half, good shape, good quality, good pockets of play.

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"We created chances, they created chances, we got the two goals, and started the second half brightly.

"I thought credit to them, when it calmed, 10 minutes in, they started getting the ball forward a lot quicker, into Benteke, he got into the game more. The wide players played off him, or the midfield once it dropped, and caused us problems.

"Their wide players started staying higher and driving at us, and we didn't deal with it as well as we'd like.

"When we got the ball, we turned it over too quick.

"That said, they get two goals, and the will, desire and demand - and quality of the last goal - is fantastic.

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"It's a poor ball out, but the ball in is terrific, and what a finish that is."

He joked: "It stands to reason I'm a genius for putting Barnes on!

"I'm definitely not the Special One, the Ginger One will do..."

Burnley scored all three goals on the counter attack, but that wasn't necessarily the game plan: "We wanted to take the game on, and for the first half and first 10 minutes of the second we did.

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"But we all know there's no mugs at this level. They have every right to try and get back in the game, and I think it's credit to them.

"They changed it at half-time, and it didn't have an immediate effect, but slowly but surely they got that ball into the front quicker, and played off the front better, and their wide players came to life.

"That put us on the back foot generally, then we were playing more counter attack.

"But we stuck to task, as we tend to do, and the mentality was superb. To concede and go 2-2, from a counter, which, as management we're raging at, but you think which way is it going to swing? And I was really pleased to put a centre forward on - you look around and you've got Patrick Bamford, Andre, but sometimes you've got to go with what you're thinking and feeling, and I thought it was right for Barnesy.

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"He could play in the two slots, he could defend from the front, and attack from the front.

"I'm really pleased he did both and scored the winner."

Burnley had chances to make it 3-0 before the Palace fightback: "We had the third chance, but they got a terrific block, from Jeff Hendrick, and 3-0 is very difficult. 2-0 we know is psychologically an odd scoreline.

"I think our main growth is when we're 2-0 up, can we still control a game and deal with what the opposition offer us?

"That takes time and experiences like today to understand that.

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"The main thing I'm pleased with is the overall mentality. We made a good marker that we never stop.

"We just kept going and going.

"The last goal is a counter, but if you see the energy, that's outstanding."