How Burnley are beating the odds

Last season, Burnley finished 16th in the Premier League, two places above the relegation zone, said Jamie Jackson in The Observer. But many predicted they would be less lucky this time round and tipped them to go down. Those predictions now appear increasingly foolish: the Clarets sat seventh this week, just three points outside the top four. Away from home, they have beaten Chelsea and drawn with Tottenham and Liverpool; on Sunday at Turf Moor, they were on course to draw with Arsenal, only to succumb to a controversial injury-time penalty.

Burnley’s success is down to defence, said Rory Smith in The New York Times. They have a mediocre scoring record, with 12 goals in their first 13 games, but have conceded just ten – a tally surpassed only by the two Manchester clubs. The club’s lynchpins in central defence, Ben Mee and James Tarkowski, have blocked more shots than any other defensive partnership; Nick Pope has made more saves per game than any other goalkeeper. That’s the fruit of careful work by their manager, Sean Dyche. He has taught his team to defend “as a structure”, rather than as individuals; he is that rare manager who includes a defensive drill in training. For Burnley, however, this new-found success has a “bittersweet” quality, said Chris Brereton in The Sunday Times. Dyche keeps being linked with “every Premier League job opening” – and each impressive performance takes him a step closer to leaving the club.