SEAN Dyche felt Burnley could have claimed all three points against Stoke City despite seeing his side move a step closer to European football.

The Clarets were on the ropes in the first half against a City side in desperate need of all three points, with Badou Ndiaye putting the Potters ahead.

But Ashley Barnes equalised in the second half and Burnley had chances to win it, particularly in injury with Johann Berg Gudmundsson going close on three occasions in added time.

"We could possibly have nicked it, with the chances created at the end, mainly falling to Jo and he’s very unlucky to not get something out of it," he said.

“But overall it was a hard-fought game, they’re fighting for everything, and the first half, we weren’t sure, the feel in the stadium, the feel of the team etc, and they gave a good account first half.

“We were slightly off it, not a long way, but slightly short, I reminded the players at half-time of how tight it was, that we had to just raise a few things in general, and I thought second half we gave a good performance and were certainly worthy of at least a draw.

“Overall, the pleasing thing for me is the effectiveness of our play. We didn’t play as well as we can, but we were still effective.

“Arguably their man of the match is the keeper, which usually implies you’ve been effective.

“We created enough to deserve a draw at minimum, and on another day nick the win.”

Dyche was angered on the touchline by Stoke's opening goal, with Ashley Westwood appearing to be pulled by Xherdan Shaqiri before the assistant referee flagged for a throw-in before quickly changing his mind and putting his flag down.

“The only reason I was asking the question, to put it mildly, was I’ve said all season, I don’t understand, the challenge of officiating is right in front of our eyes," the Clarets chief said.

"West is getting his arm pulled, trying to keep the ball, and nothing gets given.

“The linesman can see it, the ref can see it, but because he doesn’t roll around on the floor he gets nothing basically.

“Then the linesmen said he felt the ball had gone out, so he flagged for it, then realised it hadn’t so put his flag down.

“Those two moments were confusing, but I just make it clear, we still had time to deal with it after that.

“We could have dealt with it better. The balance to that is, if a foul is given, or the linesman gives a throw in, of course it stops that phase of play.

“I just felt it was a strange decision and we didn’t deal with the phase after that.”

Mame Biram Diouf missed a golden chance to put Stoke 2-0 just before half-time and Dyche said: “It’s a turning point in the scoreline, but I think we just had to adjust things at half-time, half-time can be a wondrous thing sometimes, it gives you that break and the chance to re-evaluate and calm down.

“Second half we played better. But how do you know how these games pan out?

“At the moment, we’ve been here, and even at 2-0, is it done? Not always.

"But obviously it’s fair to say if they score a second, it’s a bigger challenge.”