PERHAPS unsurprisingly, both Sean Dyche and Paul Lambert expressed their belief that their respective sides should have come away from Saturday’s 1-1 draw with maximum points.

And in all honesty, you could make an equally valid case for both sides of the argument.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Perhaps the fairest analysis of the encounter is that while Aston Villa should have won it, Burnley could have won it.

It has become one of the Clarets’ hallmarks this season that they like to start well and take the game to the opposition.

But Villa had other ideas and Sean Dyche’s men were treated to a dose of their own medicine as Joe Cole, Andreas Weimann and Gabriel Agbonlahor forced Burnley on to the back foot.

Huge credit has to go to the Clarets for the way they fought their way back.

Understandably, the headlines went to the man of the moment – and with four goals in his last five games, who can deny Danny Ings?

Yet equally pleasing was the impact made by the substitutes.

Lukas Jutkiewicz not does not carry the same goal threat as Ings, but his appearance just after the hour mark caused consternation among Villa’s back line and it was his run into the box that compelled Jores Okore to wrestle him to the ground.

And it was another substitute, Ross Wallace, who created a brace of gilt-edged opportunities in his 10-minute cameo.

The Scot may lack the physicality to impose himself on a Premier League game for 90 minutes, but he is a handy option to have up your sleeve if you want someone to run at tiring defenders and carve out chances for others.

That’s exactly how he was deployed on Saturday, and with slightly better finishing Burnley would be out of the relegation zone.

The Clarets have a chance to rectify that tonight when Newcastle United visit Turf Moor for the first time in the top flight since Boxing Day 1975 – a clash Burnley lost 1-0 in a season which ultimately culminated in relegation.

Getting the better of the Magpies will be a tough ask after their recent resurgence in form, although hopefully the suspension of talisman and key player, Moussa Sissoko will boost the Clarets’ chances.