SEAN Dyche declared his first defeat as Burnley boss as a “nearly game” after conceded two disappointing goals.

The first came after goalkeeper Lee Grant appeared to be fouled by eventual scorer Daryl Murphy.

Sam Vokes claimed the equaliser, after getting his head to Junior Stanislas' cross in a crowded box, where Danny Higginbotham looked to have got the final touch to direct it into the net.

But in trying to win the game and keep Dyche's 100 per cent record going, Burnley were hit on the break as DJ Campbell finished smartly with the outside of his boot from Carlos Edwards' ball into the box.

“Today was a nearly game for us and you could argue it’s the one that got away because we got our pocket picked,” said Dyche.

“We knew there was going to be a reaction after Ipswich got beat 5-0 in midweek.

“With a new manager there had to be, but I felt we dealt with that and more than matched it for large part of the game.

“We didn’t quite have enough in the way of chances, but unfortunately the game changed on a soft decision from a referee, which is not ideal.

“In modern football, those fouls are given. Fifteen years ago, when I was clashing heads with people they weren’t, but now heavy contact on a keeper is given.

“There were fouls given for both keepers when there was minimal contact, but I consider that to be heavy contact.”

But Dyche admitted he would reflect on a largely positive week.

“That’s six points out of nine and we are trying to build a mentality here where those games go our way and we get something out of every game we go into,” said the Burnley manager.

“We are a work in progress, but there were some real positives from that performance and there have been in general to the way the players are reacting.

“The effort levels are outstanding, so there was ways we can improve and the players are trying to do that.”