1 0 DUFF JUSTICE
Cruel red-card penalty surely puts Burnley beyond reprieve...
BURNLEY must be wondering whether they’ll even get another goal before they are relegated from the Premier League.
The Clarets appear doomed in their fight against the drop as they sit eight points adrift with just three games to play.
And their plight is in no small part due to the fact they have been failing to hit the back of the net.
Their last goal was in a 1-0 win over Manchester City on March 14 – and they have now set a club record 569 minutes without scoring.
It didn’t help that referee Jon Moss – who will take charge of the FA Cup final – got it wrong here by sending off defender Michael Duff after he had conceded a penalty by tripping Cheikhou Kouyate.
Mark Noble netted the spot-kick to reinforce the punishment – but be sure this one goal alone is not the moment that will decide Burnley’s fate.
Manager Sean Dyche said: “There is a bigger picture than a referee’s decision and we have created enough chances to win games that we have not taken.
“So I am not going to suggest it was this one decision that led us to where we are.
“But when you really need decisions to be right, they are not right.
“The sending-off did change the whole feel of the game. And the outcome, quite frankly.
“It leaves us climbing a big mountain. To survive we are looking at myths, legends and folklores.”
This match was decided after 24 minutes when Kouyate broke into the box, produced a stepover, and was felled by Duff.
It was a penalty, no doubt. But fellow defender Jas on Shackell was in a position to cover had Kouyate been able to attempt a shot on goal and Duff ’s red card was very harsh.
Noble, however, was not about to do them any favours, either, as he sent Tom Heaton the wrong way from the spot.
The Clarets have won just five of 35 games this season so their chances of now winning three on the bounce seem slim.
They are not helped by the form of front man Danny Ings. He has enjoyed such an impressive season that he will leave for a big club this summer. But his goals dried up in February and that has obviously impacted on the team.
He flashed a shot wide on 14 minutes here, then headed off target soon afterwards. The England Under-21 man had a decent chance after half- time too but could only hit the side netting.
Burnley have the worst scoring record in the division and Dyche added: “The hardest thing at any level is to score goals. That is why you see astronomical fees paid for strikers and attacking players.
“We had some good chances and you have to take them.”
For West Ham, this result helps their aim of a top-10 finish.
They have been accused of taking their foot off the gas since the turn of the year and boss Sam Allardyce said: “The team was set out to make sure we would get a victory because we have been short of goals.
“We have been a bit lacklustre in front of goal and should have won this one by more.
“It is hard when you are in Burnley’s position – but they are not dead yet.”
JONES’ VERDICT
Burnley are going down. They had chances here but will ultimately pay the price for failing to score any goals over the past 10 weeks.