SEAN Dyche felt his side’s performance in the 2-0 defeat at Stoke City has given them a base to work from.

But it could have been an even better foundation had Burnley been given the decisions Dyche felt they warranted by referee Mark Clattenburg.

The Clarets chief was disappointed his side weren’t awarded an early penalty when Scott Arfield’s free-kick hit Marc Muniesa’s arm, and he was left stunned in the second half when the same player was only booked for trying to haul back Andre Gray as he raced through on goal.

While those decisions frustrated Dyche, he was happy to see his side produce an improved display on the road, despite falling to a fifth defeat in six away from home.

"I was pleased with the performance, we've got to start somewhere away from home, and we haven't really started, but we did with the performance,” said Dyche, who made four changes from last week’s defeat to Manchester City,

"We didn't get the result we wanted, of course, but a much stronger performance, much more recognisable from my side about what we're about.

"There was good energy, good organisation, and some good quality in our play as well. We mixed our game well and became effective.

"We started really well, and then got more effective through the second half."

“Generally I thought we looked effective, more like what we are. There are no guarantees you'll get results - I'm not too worried about the idea you haven't won away, because it's a tough division, and look how Stoke have moved on and some of the players they've brought in, and the level of finance they've used. They're no mugs.

"So to come here and give a performance like that is a good sign, a start point. We know we've got to continue that, at least, and there's still no guarantees."

Despite the performance Burnley once again conceded soft goals to hand the initiative to the opposition.

"Poor first goal, a bit unlucky because Ben Mee slips on the turf, but the first part from the throw in is poor defending,” said Dyche.

"The second can be prevented, but you could look at it as a good goal from them - not so great from us, and two moments in a half where there weren't too many others.”

Most of Dyche’s scorn was reserved for Clattenburg though, who he felt got two big decisions wrong against the Clarets.

"He's a good referee, I didn't think he was so good today,” he said. “We didn't get anything.

"The one in the first half, Scott Arfield off the wall, Muniesa's got his arm in an unnatural position and it hits it. We don't get that.

"The one on Andre, I don't know where it lives anymore.

"If you give the foul in the original moment, then he's clear. He's on his own, running towards goal.

"Most people in the stadium would agree, Andre Gray is likely to win that race, therefore it's a foul and, in my opinion, he's got to be sent off.

"He decides not to, because by the time four seconds later when he's been grappling, the other man is round.

"That's the only reason I can presume he didn't send him off.

"We need a decision to go our way, we certainly didn't get many today.

"Andre is free at the end and he can square it. He just had one of those moments referees unfortunately have sometimes, and we've been on the wrong end of those this season so far.”