Europe’s no promised land for Dyche’s Burnley

NINE-MAN Norwich’s 4-4-0 formation was proving difficult to break down in the second half, so Burnley boss Sean Dyche looked at his options on the bench. There he saw six players who had never played in the Premier League, and a seventh, 18-year-old Max Thompson, who had previously made a single appearance. It did not scream strength in depth and, despite having the use of five substitutes, only more experienced duo Robbie Brady and Matej Vydra made it on to the pitch at Carrow Road. An own goal by Norwich’s Ben Godfrey eventually confirmed the win for Burnley, ensuring they remain in with a shout of qualifying for the Europa League next season. But would that be a good thing? Dyche has already complained about his squad’s diminishing size and his club’s reluctance to back him with money to spend. It is expected that 20-year-old winger Dwight McNeil and Nick Pope — frontrunner for the Golden Glove — will be lured away from Turf Moor. Jeff Hendrick left in June after failing to agree a new contract. Joe Hart, Aaron Lennon and Adam Legzdins also departed after Burnley lost in games of deal or no deal. Last time they had a fling in Europe, their Premier League form suffered, with just three wins to their name before Christmas. So maybe missing out on the Europa League would be a blessing in disguise for this Burnley squad. That was put to Dyche and he did not disagree. ‘It’s a double-edged sword, the Euro thing,’ he said. Relegated Norwich gifted Burnley victory here, with Emi Buendia sent off for an elbow on Ashley Westwood and Josip Drmic seeing red for an ugly challenge on Erik Pieters. Chris Wood then shinned an overhead kick into the net in first-half stoppage time before Godfrey’s late own goal topped off a regrettable afternoon for

Norwich, whose manager Daniel Farke described them as ‘naive, inexperienced, stupid’. For Burnley, another win, another step towards Europe, but they’d better be careful what they wish for. NORWICH (4-2-3-1): Krul 6.5; Aarons 5.5, Godfrey 5, Klose 5.5 (Zimmermann 45min, 6), Lewis 5.5; Tettey 5.5 (Vrancic 90+3), McLean 5.5; Cantwell 5.5 (Rupp 76), Buendia 5, Hernandez 5.5 (Idah 86); Drmic 4. Subs not used: McGovern, Stiepermann, Pukki, Famewo, Martin. Sent off: Buendia 35, Drmic 45+3. Manager: Daniel Farke 5.5. BURNLEY (4-4-2): Pope 7; Bardsley 6.5, Long 6.5, Tarkowski 6.5, Pieters 7; Gudmundsson 6 (Brady 60, 6), Westwood 6.5, Brownhill 6.5, McNeil 7; WOOD 7.5 (Vydra 79), Rodriguez 6.5. Subs not used: Peacock-Farrell, Thompson, Dunne, Benson, Goodridge, Driscoll-Glennon, Mumbongo. Scorers: Wood 45+5, Godfrey 80 (og). Manager: Sean Dyche 7. Referee: Kevin Friend 5.5.