Burnley boss Sean Dyche highlights players over referee after Middlesbrough victory
Monday 26 December 2016 19:44, UK
Burnley manager Sean Dyche chose to praise his players rather than criticise referee Craig Pawson for his performance in their victory over Middlesbrough.
The Clarets came out on top in the contest between last season's top two in the Sky Bet Championship, Andre Gray's 80th-minute strike the difference between the two sides.
After a fortnight of controversy officiating, referee Craig Pawson endured another testing appointment at Turf Moor, issuing 11 yellow cards and having rejecting first-half appeals from the hosts for a penalty.
However, despite believing Boro defender Calum Chambers should have been penalised for handball in the area, Dyche had no qualms with Pawson's performance and opted to highlight his side's hard-fought victory.
"It's a penalty but, I must make it clear, I was on the wrong on the view and possibly the referee was," he told Sky Sports. "I don't know what his position was but I've seen it back and it's a penalty.
"Not many games seem too bad tempered but the referee is under pressure with players going down for various reasons.
"It's tough; it's a simple as that. There is no anger from me towards the referee it's just the way the game is now."
He added: "It's an important win but they all are. It was definitely hard-fought.
"Fair play to Middlesbrough, they've gone on the road this season and done very well so we knew it would be a tough affair.
"They go away from defend in numbers and get the final third of the pitch full of bodies so it is hard to break down.
"They deserve credit for that and we deserve credit for continuing to believe what we do here and finding a moment to win games.
"Credit to both teams, the condition ere really tough, the ball was going all over the place with the wind swirling everywhere."
Gray's first goal since Burnley's early-season win over Liverpool moved the Clarets six points clear of the relegation zone.
And Dyche praised the striker's unwavering hunger for goals, adding: "Gray has got that uncanny knack of going for a chance and when he gets it he's got the freedom to miss.
"There is no psychology to him, if he misses he doesn't worry about it he just gets on with the next and you can see by the finish, he's instinctive, he's taken it early, with power.
"Their keeper may say he could have saved it but it's such an early strike maybe it caught him off guard. We're just delighted with another three points."
