GOALS FOR

ONE of Sean Dyche’s main mantras when he took charge at Turf Moor six years ago was – with actions – ‘Stop it at that end, put it in at the other’ – meaning, don’t concede, and score.

It was a simple view of a game that sometimes gets over-complicated but one that the Burnley boss will still adhere to.

The problem is, how easy is it to do that in the Premier League?

Scoring goals against some of the game’s best defenders is no mean feat, and the Clarets are not brimming with the confidence they had last season.

But fresh from scoring from the bench in defeat at West Ham it might be time for Chris Wood to be restored to the starting line-up to see if he can build on that and get some momentum.

GOALS AGAINST

AGAIN, it is easier said than done in the top flight to live by Dyche’s saying as much when it comes to scoring goals as it is stopping them.

Burnley’s defenders have come up against some of the finest attacking forces in world football of late. City, for example, blew Southampton away too at the Etihad.

But that is scant consolation to Burnley. They will be more concerned with their own game and perhaps it is time to get back to basics.

There is plenty of merit in trying to play the right way and have the desire to attack. But right now Burnley need to get back to basics; start with a clean sheet and build from there.

Even if that means there is a dearth of chances in games, the Clarets need a more solid platform to build on.

JOE HART

THERE have been calls in some quarters for a change of goalkeeper by virtue of the number of goals that the Clarets have shipped recently.

But it would be folly to think that Hart is at fault for those defeats, of the nature of them. Indeed, the scorelines could have been worse in all three games but for his interventions and actions.

That’s not to say that Tom Heaton would not have made those saves, or a fit Nick Pope. But Hart has been one of Burnley’s best players this season and deserves credit rather than criticism.

It has been said that he lacks communication or organisation but that could not be further from the truth. Hart’s is one of the loudest voices on the pitch and is constantly arranging his back four and the players in front of him.