There is plenty of huff and puff and no lack of effort

Last updated : 12 March 2013 By Tony Scholes

"It was never going to be pretty on the type of night," Bruce said. "It was a horrible hard evening but if you're going to be successful and win leagues then you've got to sometimes come to places like his on a horrible night and get something. That's what we've done."

They'd conceded eight goals in their last  two away games and Bruce added: "We wanted to make sure there was a determination about us not to concede and we reminded a few what their jobs are. Before those two games, that's what we've built the season on. We've played some wonderful football but defensively, up until a week ago, we had the second best defensive record in the league.

"That's why we've got to the top because we haven't scored many. So we just needed reminding of what we're about and what we're trying to do. We were a bit more like it tonight."

It was the same old story for Dyche who witnessed yet another drab home show. "The result was disappointing and we just have to lose this fear," he said.

"There is a massive expectation at this club, possibly greater than I imagined when I got here. It's fair to say we are transitioning out of the Premier League in terms of finance etc., but that aside, we all have to learn to deal with that.

"The team are playing with that little bit of feat at the moment and that costs you. You have to relax and go and play and we are trying to promote that with them.

"There is plenty of huff and puff and no lack of effort. The organisation is good because we are not conceding drastically, but in the top third that freedom and effervescence to go and make a difference is not there.

"People look a bit fearful and the reaction times of players and all the tiny things you notice are evident. There are tiny margins that change games and we are the wrong side of those margins at the moment, but it will come, it has to, because we want to be progressive and win matches."

He added: "There are challenges for us at the moment, make no mistake. The fans are demanding we do better and that's not problem to me, but the players have to learn to deal with it.

"It's part of being a footballer. Some deal with it more freely than others, but there is a fear and we are speaking to them about unlocking that fear because we have some good players who are just not playing as well as they can.

"It's as simple as that. You have to deal with the expectation, but you also have to play to the best of your ability and we were doing that a short while ago. Now the same group of players look a little constricted.

"The expectation won't go away though. It's an important learning curve for the group and they have to learn quickly."