MANAGERS will often tell you that performances are more important than points in the short-term.

It’s an adage Sean Dyche has signed up to in the past, often talking about seeing ‘a future’ in the performances of his side, regardless of whether results are falling for them.

There might have been a point for Burnley against Huddersfield at Turf Moor, but there certainly can’t be a future in performances like that.

This was a difficult watch for those of a Claret persuasion, further proof that while the results have improved in recent weeks from the nadir of propping up the Premier League table three weeks ago, the recovery still has some way to go.

When Sam Vokes headed Burnley into the lead on 20 minutes, it looked like a third successive league win was on the way. Instead we left wondering whether a return of seven points from nine is papering over cracks that haven’t yet been filled.

The continued absence of creative talents such as Robbie Brady, whose return has been further delayed with a minor hamstring strain, and Steven Defour, who missed this game as he tended to a personal issue, aren’t helping, but the Clarets struggled to string any passing moves of substance together against Huddersfield.

The soul searching of the last month has focused on wanting to see more ‘Burnley-like’ performances. Gritty, resilient, dogged.

There has been some of that, certainly, and picking up points when you’re not playing well is a valuable trait for any side to have. But it can only go on for so long.

Having taken the lead against the previously toothless Terriers Burnley suddenly found themselves on the back foot. Once the pendulum had swung they had no way to wrest control of the game back.

While Philip Billing and Aaron Mooy drove the visitors forward, Jack Cork and Ashley Westwood were spectators, a rare off day for both as they comprehensively lost the midfield battle.

When the half-time whistle blew the stats showed that Huddersfield had enjoyed 70 per cent of the possession, totting up 10 shots to Burnley’s two. Dyche felt his side could have been out of sight in the first half. It wasn’t a view widely shared.

While Vokes did brilliantly to head Johann Berg Gudmundsson’s right-wing cross past Jonas Lossl, a masterclass of power and placement, the Welsh striker should have done better with a fifth minute header he sent straight at the German goalkeeper.

That was as good as it got for the Clarets as well. Jonathan Hogg fired a half-volley over and Laurent Depoitre’s shot was blocked brilliantly by James Tarkowski after Ben Mee had failed to clear his lines.

Depoitre then failed to capitalise on Tarkowski missing his clearance from a right-wing cross before Chris Kavanagh’s whistle brought Burnley some respite.

The break failed to change the pattern of the game though. Mooy headed over from 12 yards and Joe Hart pushed the Aussie’s shot from distance away, with Depoitre then earning the disdain of Dyche when he hurled himself to the ground as Tarkowski approached.

Vokes had tried to flick Gudmundsson’s shot past Lossl, unsuccessfully, on a rare Clarets attack, but it always looked like the pressure would tell and so it proved. After Burnley cleared Billing’s long throw - something they enjoyed plenty of practice at in Cardiff last week - Chris Lowe sent the ball into the box via a more conventional method and Christopher Schindler glanced home.

Within minutes Schindler’s head had turned crimson, on the receiving end of Vokes elbow, and he needed lengthy treatment, while the Clarets striker will be left sweating this week over a potential FA charge. The stray arm may not have been intentional, but the damage it did won’t help Vokes’ cause.

He will likely be with Wales when he finds out if he might face a ban. For those that remain at Gawthorpe, there’s work to be done to make sure Burnley’s revival continues.