Burnley boss side Sean Dyche feels his side have ‘climbed a mountain’ to turn their form around in the second half of the season.

The Clarets were beaten 2-0 at Everton on Friday night but their Premier League safety had already been secured before the Manchester City defeat.

And Dyche is pleased with the resolve of his side who were in the bottom three at  the end of 2018.

“The mentality returned in the second half performance, they’re human beings, they climbed a mountain in the second half of the season.

“People don’t understand the work that’s been done, for the players to put the performances on and score the goals we have.

“I think we’re fifth highest scorers in the second half of the season - to get the points we’ve got, is a fantastic achievement, so I’m not going to over question the players.

“On the other hand, you want them to win games, and the winning mentality has seen us right this season.

“It’s still frustrating, but only low level, because things could have been so different in the second half of the season.”

However, Dyche felt his side should have been awarded a penalty at Goodison, where a Ben Mee own goal and a Seamus Coleman strike in meant the Clarets lost their final away game of the season and remained in 15th in the Premier League.

Matej Vydra went down in the box in the second half under the challenge of ex-Claret Michael Keane and Dyche is unsure if the introduction of VAR next season will have an impact for dives.

“How is it going to be used? Is it going to define dives? I doubt it. Is it going to define moments? Yes, which is still important of course, but the game is in an interesting position at the minute,” said Dyche.

“I think it’s two in 92, there’s been that many we haven’t been given. The only thing I keep waffling on about is it’s a natural fall, and you don’t get them anymore,” said the Burnley boss.

“He gets a push in the back and naturally falls. People fall, throw their arms around and roll over and get them all the time. I think that’s a sad side of the game now, but no one else seems to be that bothered about it.

“I will say, I’m not sure it’s actually in the box, it’s very tight, it might be on the line, I’ve had a quick look, but I was more looking at the incident whether than if it’s actually in the box.”

Vydra was then penalised for a similar foul minutes after the penalty appeal was waved away.

“I don’t know why you’re reminding me of it, I was three yards away! The complexities of the modern game are probably deserving of a better look than they’re getting in my opinion,” Dyche added.

“I just saw a player banned for feigning something, but feigning a dive is just the same, in fact it could mean hundreds of millions of pounds difference.”

Burnley made two changes ahead of the game with Robbie Brady and Johann Berg Gudmundsson coming in to the side for Jeff Hendrick and Dwight McNeil.

“Just a break. Dwight is a young man who is doing ever so well and Jeff, we ask a lot of, and also to get the lads some football,” Dyche said explaining the changes.  

“Robbie has had that kind of season, we had to get him off at the end as his calf has gone a bit tight.

“Hopefully, it is okay and Johann we wanted to get him minutes, time on the pitch and get him back involved.”