Burnley manager Sean Dyche admits gulf in class after Chelsea defeat

By Jack Wilkinson

Saturday 27 August 2016 19:51, UK

Sean Dyche admitted Burnley suffered from a gulf in class as they were comprehensively dispatched away at Chelsea.

The Clarets failed to register a single shot on target at Stamford Bridge as goals from Eden Hazard, Willian and Victor Moses sealed a 3-0 victory for Antonio Conte's side.

"Chelsea had far too much for us today," the Burnley boss told Sky Sports.

"There is a massive gulf from where we are as a club and where Chelsea are as a club both on and off the pitch, and that was on show today.

"If you add in really poor decision making and a poor first half, which is not like us to be fair, then you've got no chance of winning games like this.

"We gave the ball away far too often. They've changed here, they sit and absorb a bit more rather than coming after you, and they almost allow you to play.

"But we didn't use the ball well at all, there was no will or demand to get, use and keep the ball and there were too many sloppy passes.

"You can't make decisions like we did today against teams of this quality."

Chelsea threatened to run away the game once Hazard had bagged his second goal of the season inside 10 minutes and Willian had doubled the hosts' advantage shortly before half-time.

The Clarets had goalkeeper and captain Tom Heaton to thank for keeping the scoreline respectable in the second half, as he single-handedly thwarted the rampant Chelsea attack.

And that surety at the back saw Burnley gradually claw themselves into the game, although Dyche was adamant his side were second best.

"Credit to the lads for keeping going but Chelsea were never in trouble - I don't honestly think we ever had them in trouble," he added. "But there was a good mentality to at least keep going.

"We've got to learn from these games because this is not really our market. It is, however, part of the market and we have to take these challenges on, we wanted them and we're here now, but there is a big gap to where they are.

"Heaton has had to make saves and we know you've got to do that in these games. But we weren't close to getting a result today."

For Dyche, focus now turns to the transfer market and the chance to bolster his squad before Deadline Day.