BURNLEY manager Sean Dyche felt the first goal was crucial to the outcome of their game with Nottingham Forest this afternoon.

The Clarets had good chances in the first half at the City Ground, with Martin Paterson denied by the post and Chris McCann narrowly missing the target to go in goalless at half-time.

But Forest came out with more purpose after the break, and took the lead through a Dexter Blackstock header.

There was a foul by the striker in the build-up but the goal was given, and Billy Sharp went on to add the finishing touch after breaking the offside trap, securing a 2-0 win for Sean O'Driscoll's side.

“After a slow start from us in the first half for the next 25 or 30 minutes I thought we played some good stuff and created two very good chances. I think if either had gone in it would have been a turning point in the first half,” said Dyche.

“We couldn't find that killer pass to control the game in the second half.

“They got a goal, which was a foul so I'm disappointed with that decision, but it gave them the upper hand and it calmed the crowd down after they had been jeering at half-time.

“The goal gave them a bit of belief.

“The big thing for me was how we respond to that and that's a big part of what we do going forward.

“We've responded well so far and today we didn't quite have that as a team.”