Tuesday 4 April 2017 23:26, UK
Burnley manager Sean Dyche insists that there is still work to be done to avoid relegation despite his side beating Stoke City 1-0 at Turf Moor on Tuesday night.
The Clarets' victory, secured thanks to George Boyd's 58th-minute strike, saw them move up to 12th in the Premier League and eight points clear of the drop zone with just seven games left of the season.
Dyche, though, refused to concede that Burnley were all but safe, even though one more victory would probably be enough to secure their top-flight safety.
"There is a lot of work still to be done, we are in good shape and we said that before," said Dyche. "It is a record points total since the team have been in the Premier League for the third time.
"And that is very pleasing with seven games to go because we always look a development and to keep moving forward. And I think the players are showing good signs of that.
"We want to keep taking all these challenges on. We knew tonight was an important game of course. They are a very, very experienced side Stoke, so to take a 1-0 is really, really pleasing."
As for the game itself, Dyche thought his team had deserved the three points, especially after a poor recent run that had seen Burnley not win in the league for two months.
"It was an important win," he said. "There were a few questions marks of ourselves, a lot was made that we had not had a win in a number of games.
"But when you look at the run - five out of seven were away and the two at home were against the top two teams in the division - so we have had a tough run. But we have come out the other side of it with a really important and deserved win."
The Clarets' match-winner on the night was Boyd, although much of the credit should go to club-record signing Jeff Hendrick, who created the goal with a brilliant dribble down the left flank.
"Great bit of play, I must say," said Dyche. "Jeff, fantastic clean feet and Boydy comes in with a fine finish and we were certainly deserving of winning the game tonight."
The visitors had switched to a back three for the contest, a change Dyche thought led to a scrappy first half.
"It did first half as there was a sort of randomness to the game and it was a little bit like a basketball match in that we attacked, they attacked," he said.
"And then second half it slowed down and calmed down and I was pleased with some of the clarity of our performances tonight, particularly certain individuals who performed very well."
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