Dyche’s boosted by mighty Vokes
SAM VOKES scored his sixth goal in nine games as Burnley maintained their unbeaten league run in 2016 and kept the pressure on Championship leaders Hull City.
The Wales international ended stubborn Nottingham Forest resistance after 68 minutes when he turned in Stephen Ward’s cross from close range.
It was the least Burnley deserved and Sean Dyche’s men are running into form at the right time as the race for automatic promotion hots up.
They are now unbeaten in 10 league matches and have kept four consecutive clean sheets.
With Michael keane injured, £3million January signing James Tarkowski slotted in for his first start and he helped restrict Forest to a couple of halfchances all night.
‘The result looked tight but the performance wasn’t,’ said Dyche, who started his playing career at Forest and did gardening jobs for former boss Brian Clough.
‘We were excellent in the first half and, over the game, it would have been a big surprise if we hadn’t taken the win. Vokes is scoring well at the moment. It was a fine finish.’
Forest aren’t the prettiest side around but they boast one of the best defensive records in the division and hadn’t been beaten on their travels since November.
Their keeper Dorus de Vries saved from 18-goal Andre Gray and David Jones while Forest’s best attempt was a shot from Jamie Ward that dipped narrowly over the crossbar just after half-time.
The winning goal was wellworked. The excellent Ward cut the ball back from the byline and George Boyd cleverly allowed it to run between his legs for Vokes to strike first-time with his left foot.
With Hull, Middlesbrough and Brighton also winning, it was a valuable three points for Burnley, who stay second, a point off Steve Bruce’s Hull at the top.
Forest boss Dougie Freedman insisted Burnley’s strikers were the difference between the sides. ‘Burnley have two very good forwards and when Vokes got the chance, he took it,’ he said.