DYCHE:THERE’S SO MUCH QUALITY
Roy’s struggles with his ‘winners’ sums up Prem strength
ROY HODGSON is adamant mant morale at Crystal Palace is good despite an eight-match winless run in the Premier League. Shot-shy Palace have bagged just eight league goals all season but he insisted: “I don’t see any lack of confidence or any lack of belief or faith in the fact we will climb the table.” However, after a run of games against Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United, Hodgson warned his men not to think they can turn their form around without total commitment against Burnley. “If the players believe that, we are in massive trouble,” he said. “Burnley had to start the season early with qualification qua lification for the Europa League and with a small squad they found it very hard. “But I imagine Sean Dyche will be telling them, ‘Now it’s settling down we will soon be back to where we were’.”
Hodgson n (above) is not that surprised to see Burnley drop back a little this season.
He said: “Teams have won leagues and been relegated the next season, let alone finishing seventh then being nearer to the bottom. It’s not just the volatility of the Premier League, it’s the quality.
“You have to be hoping that you are improving all the time, apace with all the other teams.”
THE WINLESS RUNS...
CRYSTAL PALACE
Sep 22 Newcastle (H) D 0-0 Oct 1 Bournemouth (A) L 1-2 Oct 6 Wolves (H) L 0-1 Oct 21 Everton (A) L 0-2 Oct 28 Arsenal (H) D 2-2 Nov 4 Chelsea (A) L 1-3 Nov 10 Tottenham (H) L 0-1 Nov 24 Man Utd (A) D 0-0 BURNLEY
Oct 6 Huddersfield (H) D 1-1 Oct 20 Man City (A) L 0-5 Oct 28 Chelsea (H) L 0-4 Nov 3 West Ham (A) L 2-4 Nov 10 Leicester (A) D 0-0 Nov 26 Newcastle (H) L 1-2
vANYONE who doubts the quality of the Premier League only need look at Crystal Palace – according to Burnley boss Sean Dyche.
The Clarets are seeking to end a six-match run without a victory when they travel to Palace, who have not won since September.
The clubs are just a point above the bottom three, and Dyche said: “Palace have got a team with some talent, they’ve got a team that can win games and yet I think that’s the measure of the Premier League and how tough it is.
“They haven’t found that win... we haven’t found that win.
“I have experience of these type of runs and the one thing I know is that good work on the training pitch and good belief systems will enhance your chances of winning.
“So that’s what we look to do and I’m sure Roy Hodgson and Ray Lewington will be doing their version of that with their players.”
Dyche’s side have never got going this season after their early start in the Europa League with a 1-1 draw at Aberdeen on July 26. “The key for me is to get back to a performance level that can win games,” he added.
“I think we’ve had a spell when some of our performances weren’t good enough but we’re coming out of that.
“It would be nice to have a bit of the rub of the green because, for all your planning, a deflected goal goes in and that’s a tough one to take. We’ve created quality chances, so that’s pleasing – but of course there’s more to come.
“We’re in a results business, we all know that, so by hook or crook you have to find a way.”
England’s James Tarkowski is finally ready to help Burnley out of their slump – three weeks after a hernia operation.
The 26-year-old central defender said: “The groin problem went on for too long. I felt I was doing really well, and had full power in both legs. And then it just came back out of nowhere, and it hindered me for the last couple of months.”