MALLETT 2 HAMMERS 0
Burnley are a Wide Awake Club again as Dyche’s boys hit Eastenders on the head
IT seemed as if nothing could cheer Sean Dyche as much as a precious win – until the Burnley boss got a selfie with Timmy Mallett.
Dyche had just seen his decision to drop Joe Hart and recall Tom Heaton pay off handsomely with a clean sheet and three much-needed points.
But then he saw 1980s children’s TV star Mallett in his post-match press conference, and invited him over for a picture (above).
“That caps off a great day,” Dyche said. “Very rarely do I get selfies but I might have one today.
He’s a legend!”
Oxford fan Mallett (right) was at Turf Moor because his son Billy is trying to see games at all
92 English league grounds
– and is down to under a dozen.
He was cheering Burnley all the way as they boosted their Premier League survival hopes thanks to first-half goals from Chris Wood and 19-year-old Rochdale lad Dwight McNeil.
For academy graduate McNeil, it was a first senior goal as he forced Ashley Westwood’s cross past Lukasz Fabianski at his near post after some shaky West Ham defending.
But all talk at Turf Moor was of Heaton’s (right) return for his first Premier League appearance in 476 days.
The England international has had a rotten run of luck over the past 16 months – forced to the sidelines first because of a dislocated shoulder, then the emergence of Nick Pope and finally the signing of Hart.
But with Burnley crashing into the bottom three after a run of nine defeats in 11 matches, Dyche knew he had to change something.
He made five changes to the side thrashed 5-1 at home by Everton on Boxing Day, and that included bringing in Heaton for Hart (below, right). It was a popular deci- sion among the home fans – who roared their approval when the team was announced over the public address system.
Heaton even played his part in the opening goal, with a dash from his penalty area to head clear as Robert Snodgrass chased Felipe Anderson’s through ball.
Ashley Westwood gathered, exchanged passes with McNeil and Jack Cork, and lofted a diagonal pass for Ashley Barnes to head down and Wood to sweep in.
But the biggest cheer – accompanied by cries of “England’s No.1” – came when Heaton made a stunning stop to turn substitute Andy Carroll’s header on to the bar with two minutes left.
Dyche said: “Joe’s done well for us. He’s a quality keeper and a quality professional, as a bloke as well. He was the first to jump up when Tom made the save right at the end.
“There’s a big respect for him around here, and a big decision coming you’ve got three England goalkeepers, and all high quality.
“Tom showed that today. The thing I’m pleased with is Tom has been so focused and that’s hard, when you’re out of the side and want to be playing. He’s been so professional.
“He works hard, stays on top of himself, and he gets his rewards.”