Dyche has Burnley on fast track to Europe
Wood and Long put Clarets in seventh heaven as Foxes fold
SUDDENLY it all became real. Burnley can start mapping out destinations on the continent, they can start contemplating the Europa League. Only Southampton and the FA Cup stand in history’s way now.
What a reward beckons at the end of Burnley’s greatest season for 44 years. Nine points separate them and Leicester after their stout defensive display at Turf Moor yesterday. The resoluteness epitomised their ethos.
This was completely breathless football and probably Claude Puel’s last chance of catching Sean Dyche. Dyche nicked it, the first time Burnley have won five consecutive top-flight games since 1968.
It feels inconceivable that they will not finish seventh from here with five matches remaining. This was the highest hurdle and, even though they clipped it on the way over, it’s now behind them.
Only Aaron Lennon has experienced anything like this before. Nick Pope — colossal again — and Johann Berg Gudmundsson came from Charlton. James Tarkowski from Brentford. Matt Lowton was going nowhere at Aston Villa. It’s certainly the finest spell of Stephen Ward’s career.
Dyche has performed true miracles and the party can really start should Southampton lose against Chelsea at Wembley next Sunday.
‘It [Europe] can’t be a negative,’ Dyche said. ‘Five-and-a-half years ago we were 16th in the Championship. For us, to even be spoken about, is a long way from where we were — even last season.’
Puel threw in the towel after a blistering first nine minutes. ‘We’ve lost [in] our run for the Europa League, but congratulations to Burnley,’ the Frenchman said. ‘They deserve it.’
Leicester were caught flatfooted in midfield and, when Wes Morgan gave away cheap possession in the sixth minute, found themselves turned around. Ashley Barnes gratefully accepted the gift, slipping in Chris Wood and although Kasper Schmeichel saved the first effort, Burnley’s record signing tapped in for his ninth goal in 15 Premier League starts.
Three minutes later and the home supporters were singing about European tours. Leicester felt aggrieved at the award of a corner after Wood looked to get the last touch, but their defending from it was shabby at best.
Kevin Long was allowed a run on Danny Simpson and Harry Maguire to head in Gudmundsson’s corner. ‘We made things easy,’ Puel said.
Puel eventually felt this result unjust, however, and chances were aplenty. Riyad Mahrez twice manufactured space to hurt Burnley. The first resulted in Long taking the sting out of his shot, but Leicester rued the second.
Gudmundsson did not t rack Mahrez’s run at the back post, where he headed Demarai Gray’s centre, only for Pope to somehow save with his legs. The watching England manager, Gareth Southgate, took note.
Burnley had retreated after going two goals up, which in itself is not uncommon. But they were too deep. Jamie Vardy, who unfathomably did not touch the ball for the opening 18 minutes, twice fluffed headed opportunities before the break.
Dyche needed half- t i me yet Burnley were no more assured thereafter and generally camped in their own third. Pope was again called upon in emergency, tipping Vardy’s effort — which was creeping inside his right-hand post — wide before confidently collecting the resulting corner.
Pressure mounted, which could have been alleviated had referee Martin Atkinson blown for two pen-
alty shouts or had Barnes hooked a volley home. Neither went Dyche’s way and Leicester finally found an end product. Kelechi Iheanacho drove towards goal, saw Vardy peel away and then came their riposte. Vardy thrashed high into the roof of Pope’s net with 18 minutes left and only Long’s intervention stopped Vardy scoring a second.
Burnley were rattled. Hurried passes went astray without purpose and they sat deeper still. The signi f i cance of a l at e equaliser weighed them down. Dyche looked fidgety, his players concerned, his supporters on edge. ‘They had nothing to lose, the full-backs played like wingers. My players stuck in and did the ugly side,’ Dyche said.
Burnley hung on. Anything else would have been punishing. Almost as punishing as starting next season in late July, actually.