Coyle hails Clarets' quality

Burnley boss delighted to secure semi-final place

By Rob Parrish   Last updated: 3rd December 2008

Brian Jensen Owen Coyle Joy Arsenal Carling Cup

Coyle congratulates Jensen

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Owen Coyle believes Burnley's superb Carling Cup quarter-final victory over Arsenal proves the quality of the sides outside the Premier League.

The Championship outfit, who saw off Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on penalties in the last round and also overcame Fulham prior to that, triumphed 2-0 over the Gunners.

Arsene Wenger stuck to his policy of selecting his second string side, but the youngsters who were too hot for Sheffield United and Wigan were undone on a freezing evening at a packed and pulsating Turf Moor.

Kevin McDonald scored in either half to send the Clarets through to the semi-finals, while goalkeeper Brian Jensen made a string of excellent saves.

And while all the focus has been on Wenger's youthful charges, Burnley boss Coyle was keen to stress that North London does not have the monopoly on emerging talent.

Magnificent

He told Sky Sports: "We've shown that we can play a bit. We've shown that there are good sides in the Championship and good individual players.

"A lot was made about the young players Arsenal have, but I had five or six young players out there and that augurs well for the future of our club.

"That's the standard that we've been setting of late and we had to replicate that. We could have very well got to that standard and lost, because of the quality Arsenal have. If you switch off you will be punished.

"We scored two very good goals and could have had a couple more. I'm absolutely delighted, the atmosphere tonight was a real football environment, and I'm delighted that we've given everyone a very enjoyable night.

"There's no doubt that we've been big underdogs in all the games against Chelsea, Fulham and Arsenal. The lads have worked their socks off, we knew we had to be resolute and keep a nice shape.

"Brian Jensen has made a few magnificent saves in the game and to reach the semi-final is a magnificent achievement for everyone at the football club."

Chance

Coyle believes that if Burnley stick to the work ethic they displayed in their three victories over Premier League opposition they could even go on to lift the trophy against all the odds.

He added: "Whoever we get (in the semi-final), we will be underdogs. But we will go and enjoy it. We will only enjoy it by working hard and setting the standards we have previously.

"There's only ourselves and three other teams that can, so we've got a chance.

"There's no doubt that we're beyond where we should be, but we've done that by working hard and because we have good players and we will look to continue that."

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