Premier League: Sunderland boss Gus Poyet calls for better after 0-0 draw at Burnley
Sunday 21 September 2014 08:34, UK
Sunderland boss Gus Poyet called for better from his team after their goalless draw at Burnley, warning "okay" was not good enough in the Premier League.
Both sides hit the woodwork in the closing moments, Burnley substitute Ashley Barnes sending a deflected effort against the crossbar after 87 minutes and Black Cats defender Patrick van Aanholt rattling the post in added time.
But that late drama was at odds with an otherwise dour encounter at Turf Moor that seemed locked in first gear for long periods.
It may be tempting for Burnley to view things positively, a third goalless draw in a row hinting at a useful defensive resolve, but Poyet was unimpressed.
"The clean sheet I can take from today, nothing else," Poyet told Sky Sports.
"I was expecting a little bit more. With all respect to Burnley, our players play at the highest level, they cost a lot of money. These are the games they need to stand up in - as a team and as individuals.
"I said to them before coming here, 'we're playing okay'.
"But okay is not good enough in the Premier League. You need to be better than okay.
"Here we defended okay, we passed the ball okay but we need to be better than that."
After an incredible escape last season, Poyet knows that his team need to get points on the board now, or face needing a similar turnaround this time around.
"One point a game will get us 38 points," Poyet added.
"You cannot just be okay. You are going to get punished.
"I think if we had been a little bit better this was a great opportunity for three points and we missed it."
