We can't be that naïve

Last updated : 18 October 2014 By Tony Scholes

He was delighted with the way his side took control in the second half with two early headed goals from Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho. "What about those two headers," he said. "They were absolutely fantastic. These two lads have come in and hit the ground running and they're certainly making a name for themselves.

"We then felt that with Enner, having been away to South America and having played twice, he's got a goal, brilliant. Let's bring Coley (Carlton Cole) on and lo and behold for me today, the front three scored three goals. In the end it looked a comfortable win but it was never that comfortable.

"This was a massive, massive win. These are the teams you've got to get your points against. We did it against QPR, we've done it against Burnley and that makes our life a lot easier to go and attack Manchester City next week."

He added: "I was disappointed that, even though we didn't play that well in the first half, we hadn't converted any of the three or four chances that we had. Again, at the other end, we had a little bit of fortune when they hit the woodwork, so it went in swings and roundabouts.

"My reaction was that I had to change something at half time. Two things, to give the players a kick up the backside and secondly, change the shape of the team. It's all well and good saying it's all about keeping the ball, but it's what you do with it that's the most important thing. And what we were doing in the first half was not sufficient to hurt Burnley.

"I asked them to get in wide areas and do it quicker. Then they come up with two unbelievable crosses, one from Aaron Cresswell, for a great Sakho header and then an unbelievable cross again from Carl Jenkinson and a brilliant header from Valencia.

"They're young, they're enthusiastic and they've got lots of energy. They've got quality on the ball and not only do they get up there, they get back. That's the key element. You've got to have the capacity to get all the way back into your position as quickly as you can and both these lads can do that. Their outstanding quality has just put us on the road to victory.

"I hope that we can continue the way we're going at the moment. That's our phase one finished and we've got 13 points. Last season we only got eight, the season before we got 14 and we know what happened that season, we ended up with a very good one. So we've given ourselves a platform to hopefully have a very good season.

"The lads are making me feel good, they're making my job easy at the minute, so long may it continue."

Sean Dyche was, for the fourth time in the Premier League this season, looking over a game in which we came out with nothing in terms of points.

Speaking candidly after the game he said: "In the first half we were very creative in play and chances and I was really pleased, but I must make it clear, I did warn the players, I felt they would change their tactics and they started playing a more stretched game.

"They started getting the ball forward quicker to try and play in the top third and we started slowly and allowed them to do that. That was my only disappointment in the performance. You can't do that in the Premier League.

"We semi responded and had a great chance at 1-2, but it's hard work when they score a third. I was really pleased with the mentality because we tried to go again and hit the bar late on.

"That's the positive, but you come away knowing that when you are as dominant as you have been in the first half, you have to take your chances. It's not just a physical scoreline; the whole mentality of the game changes."

That first half goal just didn't come and he admitted: "There is a little element of needing a break and the quality of the chances is getting better. Our two centre forwards are in there and you just need one to drop sometimes.

"It's so close and ever so frustrating because to be that dominant and not nick a goal is a bit of a head scratcher to be honest, but we have to keep learning and we have to get rid of our Premier League naivety. It's little things, but we have to grow with that.

"We know it's a challenge as a club, but we believe in these players and that's a given from me. I believe these players can still produce at this level and there were great signs of that, but we can't be that naïve, where we give people the chance to put the ammunition in, as we did in the second half.

"We were nice and tight in the first half, but in the opening 15 minutes of the second we were on the back foot and a little lacklustre.

"We are competing, but we know we have to win. That's our job and we have to earn that right, however it comes. That changes the belief system. There's good belief already, but we need that win to enhance it and take it further."