THAT’S ALL VOKES – SAM SETTLES IT
Clarets up to fourth in table
BURNLEY’s unbeaten start to their campaign continued with a hardfought victory over newly-promoted Yeovil but Clarets boss Sean Dyche knows his side must keep grafting to reap the rewards.
Second-half strikes from substitute Keith Treacy and Sam Vokes turning in Scott Arfield’s shot after Danny Ings hit the post gave the Clarets three points, lifting them to fourth in the Championship.
And after taking seven points from their first three games, Dyche wants his side – including a goal-hungry Vokes – to carry on their form as long as possible.
“It’s good signs but early signs so there is still a hell of a lot of work to do.There’s no guarantees in the Championship,” he said.
“I’m very pleased as everyone uses the term banana skin and I don’t want to be disrespectful to Yeovil.
“They look organised, fit and want to do well for the club and are a team worthy of being in the Championship.
“They had a gameplan which worked in the first-half and in the second we got on the front foot, shifted the ball well and eventually ran out worthy winners.
“Our aim is to constantly sustain wins and the lads deserve it.They have been tremendous in preseason and they have carried that into the season.
“I’m loving that Sam is claiming everything as that what you want your goalscorers to do. That hunger is growing in him and is disappointed that he has had one cleared off the line.”
In their first-ever league meeting, Vokes should have given Burnley a 19th minute lead after latching onto Dean Marney’s through-ball but his chip over Manchester United loanee Sam Johnstone was off-target.
Yeovil winger Liam Davis missed from six yards on 36 minutes after Tom Heaton parried Kevin Dawson’s cross into his path, but the midfielder put his shot over.
The Clarets finally broke the deadlock through Treacy’s 74th minute cross-cum-shot from the left-wing which Johnstone misjudged and the ball crept in at his near-post.
Burnley could have doubled their lead a minute later when fellow substitute Arfield went through on goal but placed his shot wide across the goal-face.
But they added a second through Welsh international Vokes on 79 minutes after he turned in Arfield’s shot after Ings’ header had hit the post.
Glovers right-back Luke Ayling prevented Burnley from scoring a third after clearing Vokes’ 86th minute shot.
And a succession of saves from Johnstone late-on kept Burnley at bay, first tipping David Jones’ free-kick over and then parrying Vokes’ later header to safety.
Yeovil boss Gary Johnson called on his players to show their Championship credentials for a whole 90 minutes and challenged them not be the division’s whipping boys.
“We feel as though we let that one slip out of our hands,” he said. “We had a good hour and we looked Championship for the first 45 minutes.
“We haven’t come in this league to be the whipping boys, so we’re actually a bit disappointed by our start.
“We’ve got to be careful of a pattern where we become shrinking violets in the last 25 minutes. At the moment they’re finding their legs.
“At this level, you have to take your chances – if you don’t, all opposition teams will have some part of the play and when Burnley did, we capitulated.
“I was disappointed we didn’t give it a right go to get back. We’ve got some people who have not hit Championship form.
“It was a mixed day for Sam. He was solid but the first goal is one keepers can get caught out with.” To comment on this match go to http://boards.footymad.net/