Burnley manager Sean Dyche refusing to talk up European hopes
Saturday 31 March 2018 19:48, UK
Sean Dyche refused to talk up Burnley's hopes of European qualification after his side held on to win 2-1 against West Brom at The Hawthorns.
Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood continued their fine goalscoring form to heap more misery on Alan Pardew's strugglers, but the sixth-placed Clarets are now just two points off Arsenal in fifth.
Dyche admitted he prepared his players for a tense afternoon in the Midlands, but was surprised by the amount of possession his side were afforded by their hosts.
"We're really pleased," he said. "It's another big win and we want to be as strong as we can going into the final games of the season.
"This is a strange place to come at the minute, obviously they're having a tough time and that can make it feel weird but I thought we handled the occasion well.
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"We had a lot more possession in the first half for an away side but I thought we dealt with that very well. I'm not sure if we can break into the top six (this season), but progress is being made.
"It's hard to make massive strides at once but it's about continuation, particularly away from home, and I feel we've done that."
Burnley have now collected 24 points away from home this season - one fewer than they managed in their three previous Premier League seasons combined.
Dyche's men went 10 league games without collecting three points, but they ended that wait since mid-December with victory over Everton last month.
After a third successive win, the Burnley boss was delighted with how his players performed, adding: "It can get in your head away from home if you're not winning but we've recovered very well."
Supporters sang of going on a European tour, but Dyche warned: "You've got to be careful what you wish for. I'm very proud of what the players are achieving. We're a constant work in progress and we're definitely not the real deal.
"Most people who know me know I never get too high or too low, as I know the realities of the industry so I choose not to get carried away."
