BURNLEY ended the calendar year on a much-needed winning note thanks to goals from Chris Wood and Dwight McNeil, but bizarrely it was meeting Timmy Mallett that made Sean Dyche’s day.

“It is Timmy Mallett!,” said the Clarets boss, interrupting his post-match press conference after spotting the 1980s children’s television star.

“Very rarely do I get selfies but I might have one today.

“That caps off a great day. Legend!”

After getting his snap with the ‘Wacaday’ presenter, who was at Turf Moor accompanying son Billy on his latest stop-off on his tour of the 92 grounds, it was all about what a day it had been for Burnley, who looked more like the side that had finished seventh in the Premier League last season, and not a team that is currently struggling in the bottom three.

“It was a pleasing result, the main thing was the delivery of the performance,” said the Burnley boss.

“Recently we’ve found ourselves back to a performance level, but the details have been killing us.

“We had a blip the other day when we were not good enough, for varying reasons, but I went back to a familiar shape, made some changes, which are always a risk, but they delivered a performance, and were certainly worthy of winning the game.”

Dyche made five changes from the Boxing Day defeat to Everton, with Tom Heaton replacing Joe Hart, Phil Bardlsey in for the suspended Matt Lowton, Ben Gibson missing out for Johann Berg Gudmundsson as the Clarets reverted to a back four, Chris Wood in for Sam Vokes and Dwight McNeil for Jeff Hendrick.

“My belief is how you can effect the opposition as many ways as possible, and we did that. We did from a defensive base, so they couldn’t get a foothold, we did from a great energy, will and desire, but also with some real quality,” Dyche continued.

“The first goal was seven passes, mixed play, clip into the box, great play round the corner and a great finish.”

After McNeil added the second before half-time, Dyche admitted the win could have been made even more comfortable with the chances created.

“We could have had more. Early in the second half, we had three in five minutes. That’s my only bugbear. You never know,” he said.

“If we take one, it’s very difficult statistically for West Ham.

“But it’s nice to see that, I think 17 or 18 efforts, better stats - more effective play, we were very progressive.”