Treacy’s hammer saves Clarets
BOSS Sean Dyche hailed the “amazing mentality” of his Burnley battlers after admitting the Clarets had fallen short of their high standards before fighting back to claim a scrappy draw at Dean Court.
The promotion-chasing outfit were forced to respond from a goal down to secure a potentially-priceless point in the race for a place in the top two of the Championship.
Substitutes Ross Wallace and Keith Treacy combined on 67 minutes as the latter struck an equaliser to extend the Clarets’ unbeaten league run to nine matches.
Bournemouth, managed by former Burnley boss Eddie Howe, had looked set to deservedly defy the formbook when Ian Harte’s corner was headed home by Tokelo Rantie.
And Dyche confessed that he was happy to escape the windy south coast with a share of the spoils after Bournemouth’s Simon Francis had rattled the crossbar late on.
Dyche said:“It was a point well earned because we were way below our best. I must say the pitch had its part to play though. It affected the game massively but we have built an amazing mentality.
“I thought we had five or six players way below par, yet we came away with a point. That is a really pleasing aspect about the group.
“We encourage our wide players to get in that back post area and it was a great run from Keith and a great finish.
“They (Bournemouth) played the conditions better. But it was nothing about that, we were just off it, so I will take that point. It is a valuable one because seven points in a week is another good statement for what we are trying to achieve.”
The first half proved a dour affair with virtually no clearcut opportunities in difficult conditions. With Burnley adopting a direct approach and Bournemouth’s defence dominant, the visitors looked far from promotion contenders as they failed to register a shot in the opening 45 minutes.
But the game quickly sparked to life after the break when the hosts took a deserved lead. Harte delivered a pinpoint corner and the diminutive Rantie sent an excellent header beyond Heaton.
Burnley boss Dyche acted swiftly by replacing ineffective wingers Scott Arfield and Michael Kightly with Treacy and Wallace. The move paid dividends when Wallace cut in from the right and his deflected cross found Treacy at the far post to hammer into the roof of the net.
But the high-flyers were grateful to see Heaton deny Lewis Grabban before Francis rattled the crossbar.
Bournemouth manager Howe, who spent 21 months at Turf Moor, said:“I have the same feeling as I did after we played Bolton, a feeling that we should have won the game. I think that is part of our next progress, to win these games.You need that ruthless quality to see out games.”
“We got the first goal and, usually this season, that has been enough to win games, but it wasn’t the case here.”
Discussing goalscorer Rantie, Howe added: “He is a player who we really believe in and we think he is going to be a really good player for us for the future. He is improving all the time.”