It’s an itsy bitsy step to safety for Clarets
BURNLEY ........ 2 WEST HAM ...... 0
IT seemed as if nothing could cheer Sean Dyche as much as a vital win – until the Burnley boss got a selfie with Timmy Mallett.
The Clarets boss had just seen his decision to drop keeper Joe Hart and recall Tom Heaton pay off handsomely with a clean sheet and three vital points thanks to Chris Wood and Dwight McNeill.
But then he saw 1980s children’s TV star Mallett in his post-match press conference and invited him over for a picture.
Dyche said: “That caps off a great day. Rarely do I get selfies but I might have one today. He’s a legend!”
Mallett, an Oxford fan, was at Turf Moor because his son Billy is trying to see games at all 92 English league grounds – and is just 10 short.
He was cheering Burnley all the way as they boosted their Premier League survival hopes.
McNeil bagged a first senior goal as he forced Ashley Westwood’s cross past Lukasz Fabianski at his near post after shaky West Ham defending.
But all the talk was of Heaton’s return for his first Premier League appearance in 476 days.
He’s had rotten luck over the past 16 months – forced out with a shoulder injury, then by Nick Pope, then by the signing of Hart.
But with Burnley down into the bottom three after a run of nine defeats in 11 matches Dyche knew he had to change something.
Heaton even played his part in the opener, dashing from his area to head clear as Robert Snodgrass closed in before Ashley Westwood found Ashley Barnes who nodded on for Wood to sweep in.
Dyche said: “Tom’s been so professional. He works hard, stays on top of himself and gets rewards.”