TEAM SELECTION

After the second half performance against Everton a week ago most fans hoped to see the Ashley Barnes-Chris Wood partnership given a go from the start.

But Sean Dyche is never one to make selections to please his public. The announcement that it was same again was met with a chorus of sighs on the immediate judging ground that is social media.

This time the Clarets chief waited an hour before making the change and again the introduction of Chris Wood for Jeff Hendrick changed the game in Burnley’s favour.

But that doesn’t automatically mean that the two would have fired from the start. Dyche picked Hendrick to try and quieten the game early on, to control any potential reaction to West Ham’s recent road hammerings.

As the hour approached it became clear the game was there for the taking and the attacking change turned the tide in Burnley’s favour.

BARNES FOR AUSTRIA

Before kick-off at the London Stadium Ashley Barnes and Marko Arnautovic found themselves stood next to each other on the halfway line. Arnautovic began to chat.

What was said we can only guess at, but it would be no surprise to see the two together in an international squad by the end of the week.

Austria boss Franco Foda was a very interested observer here and he must have been impressed by the magnificent Barnes, who hasn’t ruled out accepting a call from the country of his grandmother.

His stunning strike made it three successive games in which he has scored from and his all-round play was once again impressive. An international call would be richly deserved.

PROTESTS

While we are obviously focusing on the Burnley perspective here, the incredible second half scenes inside the ground cannot be ignored.

There was no prior warning of things to come before the Clarets took the lead. It’s no secret that there is unrest in these parts, but the home fans got behind their side early on, perhaps spurred on by the emotional tribute to Bobby Moore, 25 years after his death. But as soon as Burnley took the lead the atmosphere turned.

There is no excusing some of the behaviour from West Ham fans, but their anger is understandable, even if they went the wrong way about showing it.

When it comes to the move from Upton Park to this soulless, cavernous bowl they have been spun a tale that simply doesn’t stack up. On Saturday they sang about ‘wanting to go home’, but Upton Park is already a block of flats. It’s a sorry tale.

THREE LIONS HOPE

This was the last chance to impress for Burnley’s England hopefuls before Gareth Southgate names his squad for friendlies with Holland and Italy on Thursday.

The likes of Nick Pope, Ben Mee, James Tarkowski and Jack Cork can’t have done themselves any harm.

For the second week in a row Pope outshone an England rival, making a couple of decent saves and generally looking calm and collected, while Joe Hart made a mistake for Burnley’s third goal on his recall.

A call-up for Pope would cap an astonishing six months for the 25-year-old and he deserves to be in the frame given his performances.

Southgate’s squad announcement will be viewed eagerly at the Barnfield Training Centre. A personal prediction? Tarkowski and Cork to make the squad. Pope’s time will come.

GOOD BLOKES

A word of appreciation for the Burnley substitutes and staff, who offered seats on the bench to children caught up in the skirmishes in the home end behind the dugout.

The success of a football team will always be judged on the pitch, but it should be recorded that Dyche has also built a team of good people.

It was a small touch but it was in keeping with the attitude of the squad, who are always polite, friendly and courteous when on club duty. They’re giving footballers a good name.