Burnley manager Sean Dyche expects questions about poor Premier League form

Last updated on .From the section Burnleycomments198

Ben Mee reacts to a missed Burnley chance
Burnley have won only four of their 20 games this season in all competitions

Burnley boss Sean Dyche knows "questions will be asked" after a 2-1 home defeat by Newcastle continued his side's poor start to the season.

Burnley, who have lost four of their six league games at Turf Moor, are a point above the bottom three in 17th.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 live, ex-England international Danny Mills asked if Dyche would start to come under pressure from Clarets fans.

"There are better signs but we have to get results, we know that," Dyche said.

"The mentality is intact. There's no lack of character - you don't get to where we've got to without character."

Burnley's seventh-placed finish last season, which led to Europa League qualification, was built on defensive resilience as they conceded only 39 goals in the whole league campaign.

But Newcastle's win at Turf Moor on Monday means Dyche's side have already leaked 27 goals in just 13 games. It took until 31 March for them to let in that many in 2017-18.

Former Leeds defender Mills, who commentated on Monday's game for BBC Radio 5 live, wondered whether Burnley fans would start to lose patience with Dyche if results do not improve.

"You have to start to think Burnley are in trouble," Mills said. "That's why I pose the question to Burnley fans: at what point, if ever, does Sean Dyche come under pressure?

"I'm a massive fan of Sean and let me be clear, I don't think he should be under pressure. He's worked wonders at this club and they've punched above their weight for so long.

"But you can't keep playing like that - pumping long balls up to two big lads up front.

"They need something different. They need to change the way they play."

Burnley have not won in six matches but Dyche said he saw some positive signs in their defeat by Newcastle.

"There is a process at the moment with the team getting stronger," he said. "That takes work, mental toughness - which we have - and resilience.

"The fact is there will be questions asked, but we've been through that before.

"Rarely have we been a fancied team - we've had to fight for everything we've got so far and we'll continue to do that.

"I think there was some good stuff tonight but inevitably - and I'm never naive enough to think otherwise - you've got get results."

Comments

Join the conversation

These comments are now closed.

198 comments

  • Comment posted by Nicky, at 10:53 27 Nov 2018

    Are you actually kidding me. Dyche has done absolute wonders at that club with one of the lowest wage bills in the League. He could have gone to a bigger club but stayed loyal. Time for Burnley board to stay loyal to him. Even if they are relegated he has already proven to have the ability to bring them back up. Stability the key for Burnley unless a new mercenary buys them out with some oil money

  • Comment posted by Terry, at 07:09 27 Nov 2018

    Burnley are there or thereabouts where natural position is. Last year a one off. Dyche knows it and so do Board

  • Comment posted by Glad All Over - CPFC, at 07:05 27 Nov 2018

    When you have Sam Vokes, Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes on the pitch, it is obvious that you are only going to try and play one way, and that is just hoofing the ball up top.
    Burnley used to have more dynamic options such as Ings and Gray but they haven’t been replaced.
    Benitez at least uses different styles of forwards in Rondon, Joselu, Perez in order to get a result.

  • Comment posted by ighten, at 11:07 27 Nov 2018

    "You have to start to think Burnley are in trouble," Mills said. "That's why I pose the question to Burnley fans: at what point, if ever, does Sean Dyche come under pressure?

    In answer to your question, Danny - never.
    That’s because we don’t react to mediocre ex-players trying to eke it out as pundits with poor insight instead of having the grace to become used car salesmen like they used to.

  • Comment posted by Thursday night football, at 07:46 27 Nov 2018

    Bottom 3 come May...

    ---------------------------
    18 Man Utd
    19 Southampton
    20 Cardiff City

  • Comment posted by BaggiosPonytail, at 11:37 27 Nov 2018

    In my opinion Burnley are not going to get a manager who would do a better job than Dyche. He seems like a good fit for them. He knows that funds are limited and works within that framework and the club appear to realise that they are fortunate to be in the position they are in.

    It makes a refreshing change from the revolving door policy you see at a lot of clubs.

  • Comment posted by TomTom, at 11:13 27 Nov 2018

    46. Posted by Vimto on

    Back to reality though, true football fans don’t care about the minnows outside the big 6.

    Completely backwards statement, true football fans are those that have stayed with their club through thick and thin regardless of where they currently find themselves. Sure there are true football fans of the top 6 but there are also a hell of a lot of plastic glory supporters.

  • Comment posted by Macca, at 07:03 27 Nov 2018

    Worked wonders give the man time!!

  • Comment posted by ABS, at 07:18 27 Nov 2018

    Hope he also expects the media witch hunt that every team gets when they lose a couple of games . So far managers under pressure this season have been pretty much every team apart from city and Liverpool

  • Comment posted by theonecalledm, at 10:07 27 Nov 2018

    @46 totally wrong mate, TRUE football fans care about ALL clubs whatever level. Burnley deserved their tilt at Euro football, it didnt work out for them but I dont think its that anymore, they just need a run of 3 wins and theyll be climbing back up the table , safety for this season is all that matters now. Dyche is a straight talking honest bloke, and English a dying breed in the EPL

  • Comment posted by Beckett_4, at 09:43 27 Nov 2018

    Crazy how fast things change in football. 4 months ago he had a pub named after him after leading them to their highest placed finish in years on a shoestring budget and now theres rumours of the sack!?

    Meanwhile Mourinho is plodding along after spending £500 million and breaking record after record for all the wrong reasons

  • Comment posted by A football genius, at 07:46 27 Nov 2018

    Come on BBC, of course he shouldn't get the sack. It wouldn't be the end of the world if Burnley got relegated and the board know that. And who better to get them promoted again than someone who's been there and done it?

  • Comment posted by U17190321, at 10:47 27 Nov 2018

    @ 64 STEEVO more prestige, look at the history books mate, Huddersfield were 1st English team to win 3 consecutive titles, a feat only managed by 3 other teams. I have the sneaking suspicion you may be one that thinks football only invented in 92, lots of clubs outside PL with greater histories than some in it.

  • Comment posted by Smelly Boyd, at 06:41 27 Nov 2018

    Having an argument with your centre half after the second goal went in, from the touch line, is a tad counter productive Sean ? Best leave that for the changing room. Good luck Burnley.

  • Comment posted by Dave, at 07:03 27 Nov 2018

    Being a sports hack must be the easiest gig in the world.

    Which teams have lost this week? OK here's a few paragraphs about how their manager is under pressure.

  • Comment posted by U16533314, at 06:58 27 Nov 2018

    The reason Dyche is failing miserably this year is that he broke up a winning formula. Tom Heaton was brilliant in goal and marshaled the defense. They were resilient.
    Now Joe Hart is here. The whole system is collapsing. Wherever Hart has played in the last 5 years - goals galore have been let in and he has made many gaffs.
    Burnley are tired after early Europa exploits. Dyche tactics inept poor

  • Comment posted by Squire, at 13:20 27 Nov 2018

    In response to comments re Joe Hart.

    Watching him week in and out, yes he makes good saves but he is rooted to his line leading to the defence being too deep. This does not happen with Heaton and Pope, especially Pope who commands the box superbly.
    He doesn't look to be communicating well with the defence, Heaton is tops for that.
    Personally I would like to see Heaton back then Pope.

  • Comment posted by seandundeesleftfoot, at 11:56 27 Nov 2018

    Dyche to the BBC, ' This is why I ask the question to radio 5 listeners, why do you employ mediocre and bang average ex players like Danny Mills to ask the most bland and boring questions to us footy managers?"

  • Comment posted by jmic, at 06:43 27 Nov 2018

    Dyche out Allardyce in they play the same style of football but Allardyce gets stick for it and Dyche gets praise funny old game

  • Comment posted by dowlass, at 15:01 27 Nov 2018

    146. Posted by Soccer_mane

    "How the crash and Burnley fans think he's a top manager just shows what a delude bunch they are and the poxy town they come from."

    Oh look, a real hater's arrived! Having a bad day, mate?.. someone stolen your toys?

    What a sad specimen. The vacuous, uneducated outpourings of a numpty. Time to close this thread, I suspect.

Top Stories

Also in Sport

Elsewhere on the BBC