Dyche is turning heads as Everton look on longingly
LISTENING to Burnley manager Sean Dyche explain how he has overseen a run of only one defeat in 10 games was, at times, like hearing David Moyes describing key parts of his Everton blueprint, which has surely not been lost on Bill Kenwright, the Everton chairman who bleeds Goodison Park blue and happens to have a vacancy. But other worried chairmen may also be casting envious eyes towards Turf Moor and Dyche. Dyche laughed when it was pointed out, but his team were outside the Champions League places only on goal difference on Saturday evening. Many assume that Dyche would jump at the chance to move to a club such as Everton, where the investment of Farhad Moshiri means that money is no longer as tight as in Moyes’s day. But Dyche insists that spending large amounts of owners’ cash is not what motivates him. ‘You like to buy quality when you can get it, but a big thing for me is developing players,’ he said, reeling off a list of low-budget success stories. The Burnley boss did not mention his match-winner, Sam Vokes, an example of Dyche’s developmental skills. Defender Maya Yoshida came closest to a goal for Southampton, which may explain why they have failed to score in nine of their last 12 home league games. With away fixtures against five of the top six to come, finding a way to win at St Mary’s has become even more urgent.
SOUTHAMPTON (4-2-3-1): Forster 6; Cedric 5, Yoshida 7, Van Dijk 7, Bertrand 6; Davis 6, Romeu 6; Tadic 5 (S Long 76), Boufal 6 (Ward-Prowse 90), Redmond 6; Gabbiadini 5 (Austin 65, 4). Subs not used: McCarthy, Hoedt, Hojbjerg, McQueen. Manager: Mauricio Pellegrino 5. BURNLEY (4-2-3-1): POPE 7; Lowton 6, Tarkowski 6, Mee 7, Ward 7; Defour 7, Cork 7; Gudmundsson 7, Hendrick 6 (Barnes 65, 7), Brady 6; Wood 5 (Vokes 65, 7). Subs not used: Lindegaard, Westwood, Bardsley, K Long, Arfield. Scorer: Vokes 81. Manager: Sean Dyche 7.5. Referee: Lee Probert 7. Attendance: 30,491.