Thursday 19 April 2018 23:05, UK
Sean Dyche highlighted Burnley's growing mentality after they produced a spirited fightback in Thursday's defeat to Chelsea.
The Clarets found themselves outplayed and a goal down after Kevin Long put through his own net, but they made a fist of things after the interval.
Ashley Barnes' deflected effort hauled Burnley level but their lead lasted just five minutes as they succumbed to Victor Moses' winner.
"I'm really pleased with our growing mentality," Dyche told Sky Sports. "It's not easy to take the game on when you're 1-0 down at half-time to Chelsea.
"I thought we did, we really took the game on. We tried to play, we mixed our play and were effective.
"So there were certainly no disappointments, we were playing a top side and we are getting closer. There is work to do, but the gap has got closer over the last three seasons.
"There are a lot of positives for us but those margins, those little moments that count in the game, is where we are still progressing, particularly in the top third."
Burnley gave Chelsea a helping hand with the opening goal at Turf Moor as Nick Pope's clearance cannoned off long into the back of the net.
Dyche chose not to attribute blame to either player, instead highlighting that both were in the correct position trying to achieve the thing.
"The first goal is a mix up, they are both doing their jobs," he added.
"We got slightly done on the straight, long pass but we recovered well and Pope knocks it in off our defender. It's a soft goal.
"They get a bit of luck with the second, with (Olivier) Giroud swiping his heel at the ball. It doesn't come off and it lands at their player.
"I think Moses has kicked the floor a bit and those ones often go in. I don't want to downplay it because they had a couple of golden chances, but they were mainly from breakaways.
"Chelsea had a couple of moments, a couple of golden chances mainly from our bad play because for a lot of play we defended resolutely.
"And then we were effective at times to try and open them up and try and create problems for them, which is very difficult.
"There's been a bit of a noise around their camp but they're still a top-class side, you saw the changes they made and I'm sure you can do the maths for the numbers they were brought in for."
