Burnley’s ‘spot-on attitude’ delights Dyche
Sean Dyche praised Burnley’s “professional performance” as they flew out of the blocks to end Peterborough’s hopes of a giant-killing inside half an hour.
Burnley heeded Dyche’s demands for a fast start by scoring three times in 24 minutes – through Jay Rodriguez, Eric Pieters and Jeff Hendrick – against Darren Ferguson’s League One play-off hopefuls.
Ivan Toney pulled a goal back before half-time but Rodriguez added his second soon after the break before Peterborough
substitute Ricky Jade-Jones added some respectability to the scoreline towards the end.
Dyche made eight changes, including giving former England No 1 Joe Hart only his second start of the season, and was delighted by the response after three Premier League defeats.
He said: “I wouldn’t say the win was badly needed – at least not more badly than any win – but I was pleased that we turned in a very professional performance.
“Peterborough are a good side, especially going forward, but I thought our attitude and approach were spot on.”
Peterborough manager Ferguson was unhappy that Pieters’s goal was allowed to stand but encouraged by the way his players refused to throw in the towel after falling 3-0 behind.
“Their second goal should never have been allowed,” he said. “I’ve seen it back and their player has had to jump out of the way of the shot, so how is he not interfering with play?”
Rodriguez tapped in the first in the eighth minute after Chris Wood’s header had been parried by Christy Pym. Pieters added the second after 15 minutes, firing in his first goal for Burnley from 25 yards after chesting down Rhys Bennett’s clearance. Hen- drick made it 3-0 after 23 minutes with a shot from the edge of the penalty area that took a deflection off Mark Beevers.
Toney made amends for a glaring miss by cashing in on Matt Lowton’s mistake six minutes before half-time for his 17th goal of the season.
Rodriguez wrapped it up by taking a pass from Aaron Lennon to shoot under Pym’s body and into the far corner. Jade-Jones scored from close range after 76 minutes to keep Burnley on their toes.