A RED-HOT BATTH SCALDS BURNLEY
THERE was late drama at Turf Moor as Burnley’s six-match winning streak was ended by Danny Batth’s stoppage-time strike.
The Championship leaders appeared to be marching on to another precious three points after Sam Vokes’ 14th goal of the season handed the Clarets the lead midway through the second period.
But up popped Wolves skipper Batth in the dying embers of a largely dull game to rescue a point for the gutsy mid-table visitors.
Their winning streak may be over, but Burnley are now unbeaten in 15 games and still hold a four-point advantage over second-placed Brighton.
And boss Sean Dyche is hardly panicking.
He said: “It was a really close game and credit to Wolves, their game-plan worked quite well.
“They hit the post in the second half and then we had a couple of maybes, but generally in those situation when you go in front at that stage, you should be seeing the game out.
“Overall I thought we edged the game. We were close in the end, but there was no cigar.
“People need to remember that despite our position, nobody comes here just to lay down and roll over.
“Things might have gone against us a little here, but it's hardly drastic times is it?
“We’re still clear at the top and we’re still on a long unbeaten run.
“As long as we don’t put too much pressure on ourselves then we’ll continue to be OK.
“There’s pressure everywhere in football, but we’re not feeling any here.”
It was a less-than inspiring goalless first period.
The Clarets bossed possession and created the bulk of the chances, but couldn’t find a way through a wellorganised Wolves defence.
The Clarets went close early on when Andre Gray stretched but he just couldn’t reach a low cross from strike partner Vokes.
Wolves responded with Kortney Hause seeing a towering header blocked by Ben Mee.
It was Mee who came to the Clarets’ rescue in the 35th minute when he was acrobatic in clearing George Saville’s shot off the line.
Jeremy Helan also saw an angled strike deflected into the side-netting as Wolves ended the first period positively.
The Clarets were rescued by the woodwork just before the hour mark, when Jack Price cracked in a great effort from 25 yards which bounced to safety off the foot of a post.
The hosts then struck after 68 minutes when Vokes rose majestically to head home his fourth goal in three games as he met Joey Barton’s peach of a cross.
However, that wasn’t enough as Batth powered home a corner-kick from sub Nathan Byrne to silence the home faithful.
And Wolves boss Kenny Jackett felt his side deserved the reward of a point.
He said: “We played our part in the game and I thought we deserved something out of it.
“I suppose at the end of it you’ve got to decide whether it’s a glass half-full result or a glass half-empty.
“It’s definitely the first one for me because there were a lot of good performances out there.
“Our players showed a very good attitude, but we all have to remember that finishing is such a huge part of football.
“We had chances here, and we didn't take them. That has to be better and it’s something we will be working on.”