Burnley manager pleased with draw at Southampton

Burnley manager Sam Dyche has admitted that the Clarets acquired a well-deserved point at Southampton in the Premier League opener. The Lancashire outfit had come into the game on the back of a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Istanbul Basaksehir on Thursday night but they still managed to play the game with good intensity.

The Clarets were the better team during the first half where they created a number of opportunities and ultimately Dyche was pleased for the side to have returned with a point, he told BBC Sport: “It was a well-deserved point that could have been all three. It’s not easy to dominate away from home like we did. We were good in possession and had a good shape.

“They came back into it after a change of shape and we had to show a different side to our team then as we have many times before.You have to have a good mentality in the Premier League and we have a good balance of mentality and quality. It was a pleasing performance especially after a really tough away game on Thursday night.”

Burnley were fairly quiet during the vast part of the summer transfer window but they managed to make a few key signings before the transfer deadline. Ben Gibson and Matej Vydra were signed from Middlesbrough and Derby County respectively to bolster the defensive and centre-forward department whilst goalkeeper Joe Hart likewise made the switch to Burnley on a permanent basis from Manchester City.

With the Premier League opener done, Dyche’s men should now focus on the return leg of their Europa League third qualifying round where they are scheduled to host Basaksehir. The Clarets played in more of an ultra-defensive fashion during their goalless draw in Istanbul but they should open up for the home leg of the European tie.