We contributed enough to get a positive result

Last updated : 19 October 2009 By Tony Scholes
They had won their last home game against Aston Villa after coming from 1-0 down to an early goal and Allardyce said: "Again it was another tremendous performance to come from behind. It was a magnificent response from us and we scored some great goals today.

"We were 3-1 up at half time and deservedly so and in the second half I think the lads decided that they were going to make sure that they just probed when they could and defended properly.

"And we really only gave Burnley one free chance which was a header from a corner until they scored in the final minute when we slipped up. We handled the final two minutes okay and we got what we deserved."

Owen Coyle pointed at the second goal after seeing the Clarets lose yet again on the road as one of a number of decisions he felt went against us. "I suppose you always pick the bones out of any goal and for the second I was convinced Di Santo leaned into Stephen Jordan and did enough to put Brian Jensen off.

"It was my initial reaction and nothing will convince me otherwise. It was a comfortable ball for Brian to deal with and the only way he couldn't is if he was knocked off. I know people will say it was only a nudge, but when you are off balance it affects you.

"I am not going to sit here and blame referees though. I spoke to the referee Chris Foy at the end of the game and I know it's a difficult task.

"I just felt a large percentage of those marginal decisions all went against us. They say things balance themselves out and if that's the case then I'm due a few at the back end of the season!"

On the performance, he said: "I think there was a ten minute period in the first half where we conceded soft goals after a great start. For the equaliser we feel we have good possession in the last third and after being dispossessed it's a great finish in the end by Dunn.

"The second we all saw and then we lost a poor third goal and found ourselves with a mountain to climb.

"But over the ninety minutes I don't think there's any doubt that we contributed enough to get a positive result and what we did show at 3-1 was our character, our resolve and quality. We got a good goal late on, but unfortunately couldn't quite force the equaliser.

"There's obviously a lot to brush up on, but there are a lot of positives to take and what we have shown is that anyone who writes us off does so at their peril because there is no doubt we will pick up points in this league.

"I am disappointed to lose a derby, especially the local one and all the rivalry that goes with it. But here we are with twelve points that nobody envisaged us having and with probably the lowest budget the Premier League has ever seen. There is a lot to be positive about at Burnley Football Club."