Boyd turns the tide to lift Burnley
SEAN DYCHE batted the question away without a moment’s hesitation, refusing to contemplate that his Burnley side are safe.
‘We are not going to get ideas above our station,’ said the manager after his side ended a sevenmatch winless run and moved seven points clear of the relegation zone. ‘We have to keep challenging ourselves. We’re in good shape with seven games to go but this is a tough division.’
It was all very circumspect but the guttural roar that greeted the end of this war of attrition, an explosion of noisy relief and celebration around Turf Moor, was firmly at odds with Dyche’s view. Barring unexpected calamity, Burnley will be in the Premier League next season.
A goal from George Boyd was enough to illuminate and decide this game and ensure it was memorable for more than a farcical corner from Stoke midfielder Charlie Adam that is destined to feature in an end of season blooper show.
Boyd’s strike, confidently dispatched following a driving run from Jeff Hendrick and described as ‘sublime’ by Dyche, secured Burnley’s 32nd home point of the campaign and their 10th win in front of their home fans. With three more fixtures to fulfil here, against Manchester United, West Bromwich and West Ham, this throwback stadium should provide the difference.
Early last night, though, the crowd were apprehensive. And while Dyche hollered and barked, trying to cajole his players, Burnley jumped and jittered.
Stoke should have gone into break with the advantage. Adam had two good efforts and, just before half-time, a wonderful flick from Saido Berahino flummoxed Michael Keane and allowed Marko Arnautovic to scuttle clear. But as the Austrian closed in on Tom Heaton’s goal, he hesitated and the chance was lost.
‘If we had got the first goal, I’m sure we would have gone on to win quite comfortably,’ Stoke manager Mark Hughes insisted. ‘We had chances and we should have converted one of them. I’ve got no qualms with what we produced against difficult opponents.’
But Stoke fell away after the break and nothing characterised that more than when Adam slipped at a corner, kneed the ball out of the quadrant and put his hand out to replace it. Much to the mirth of the stadium, a freekick to Burnley was awarded.
That looked like it might be the standout moment, but four minutes later Hendrick charged into Stoke’s area and provided the pass for Boyd, who did the rest. Another couple of results like this and Dyche will be able to rest, too.
(4-4-2): Heaton 7.5; Lowton 7, Keane 8, Mee 8,5, Ward 6.5; Boyd 7, Hendrick 7, Barton 7, Defour 6 (Brady 57min 6.5); Gray 6 (Barnes 78), Vokes 6 (Tarkowski 85).
Pope, Agyei, Arfield, Westwood. Ward, Barton, Boyd. Boyd 58. Sean Dyche 7.
(3-4-2-1) Grant 7; Muniesa 6, Martins Indi 6, Shawcross 6; Diouf 5.5, Adam 6, Cameron 6, Pieters 6; Allen 6 (Afellay 83), Arnautovic 6; Berahino 6 (Crouch 70, 6).
Given, Whelan, Johnson, Imbula, Sobhi. Adam, Martins Indi. Mark Hughes 5.
Michael Keane. Kevin Friend 7.