Sean Dyche defends Burnley despite 'flat' Bournemouth loss
Saturday 13 May 2017 18:23, UK
Sean Dyche defended his new Burnley centre-back pairing in the absence of Michael Keane, after a costly error against Bournemouth.
Sam Vokes' 83rd-minute header had levelled the game at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday following Junior Stanislas' first-half opener, but Bournemouth striker Josh King got the wrong side of Burnley defender James Tarkowski moments later to strike a late winner for the Cherries.
Tarkowski's centre-back partner Kevin Long, whose first Premier League appearance of the season came in last week's draw against West Brom, had been dragged out wide by Ryan Fraser, leaving Tarkowski one on one with the in-form King.
First-choice Keane, who Dyche maintains is yet to be the subject of any formal transfer bids, and Ben Mee once against missed out of the squad, and Burnley manager Dyche was reluctant to criticise his defensive understudies.
"We've got two centre-halves who are learning, they're getting a connection, but they just got too distant for the second goal," Dyche told Sky Sports.
"We've had some really big, important games recently, and we just couldn't quite get up for things in the second half, were on the back foot a little bit and didn't really take on the challenge.
"We scored a late goal, could have nicked something, but the two goals we conceded - particularly the second - were really poor."
Burnley are all-but assured of their Premier League status due to their vastly superior goal difference over Hull, and Dyche believes the defeat is not a true reflection of his side's efforts this season.
Having bounced back from relegation to the Sky Bet Championship at the first attempt, Burnley's top-flight standing remains one to be proud of, according to Dyche.
"It's hard to be too critical of these players, they've taken the club a long way in the last few years and particularly this season when we were given no chance at all," he added.
"I'm not overthinking things today. Sometimes it's just one game too many.
"It's fantastic for the club, for the supporters, despite not having the best away record. I just think it's fantastic for the town. It's such a tough division to get into and then staying in it for a club like ours is a big challenge."
