SEAN Dyche was pleased with how his side defended against an Ipswich Town team who have been hard to beat on their travels this season.

The Burnley boss said it was always going to be difficult to follow up back-to-back 4-0 home wins with success against Mick McCarthy’s men.

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But he was encouraged by a third straight clean sheet at Turf Moor, as Saturday’s battle between the Championship’s fifth- and sixth-placed teams ended goal-less.

Dyche said: “I think it was a tight one. We had the best chance, and a couple of maybes, but it was a tight affair against a side who have just won five on the trot away from home.

“They make it hard, it comes forward virtually every time the ball is anywhere near their back line, and I thought we dealt with that very well, the first contact, the second balls — the ugly side of the game you have to do.”

Of their forward play, Dyche said: “We were close but no cigar really with our fluid play.

“There were moments of it, and we did not quite have the connection with the wide men and the front players like we have in the last couple of home games.

“But to come off two 4-0s and get another clean sheet, I think that is nine now this season. That side of it is pleasing. They broke the game up a lot with lots of fouls and broke the momentum up, which is part of the game.

“They do it well and have away recently. They have nicked close games, so we are pleased that did not happen. But we could not quite forge the chances we have lately.

“We have been free-flowing lately but it is the Championship — it is not easy to string together constant 4-0s.

“It is good to do two but the third was an ask against a good side.”

But Burnley were unlucky not to take all three points, after having a “goal” mysteriously ruled out.

Ben Mee headed in David Jones’ corner in the first half but referee Peter Bankes chalked it off for a foul.

And Dyche was not convinced the right decision was made, at the time and having seen it back after the match.

Dyche said: “I have had a look. I did not think it was a foul at the time, and it certainly does not look it on the monitors afterwards.

“Their two defenders are screening their own keeper, so our two forwards are just with them.

“I would have taken the lot in the goal but keepers nowadays... it would probably still have been given in my day, but now any kind of contact and it is some form of foul.

“But there looks negligible contact on the keeper, which I presume it was given for.

“That was what the fourth official thought he had given it for anyway.”

Conversely, Andre Gray was denied a clear run at goal after a foul by Tommy Smith but Bankes played on instead of awarding a free-kick on that occasion.

But Dyche said: “I will leave you to talk and write about decisions, and the fans can decide that.

“It is easier for you to write about it. I try to concentrate on the football the best I can. On occasions I have to mention decisions that go against us but I will leave that to you.”