SEAN DYCHE INSISTS the prospect of being offered the manager’s job at Everton will not distract him from the task in hand at Burnley.
Dyche showed once again why he is a man in demand as his well-drilled and tenacious side rose to seventh in the Premier League table with a 1-0 win over Newcastle United at Turf Moor on Monday.
Jeff Hendrick struck 16 minutes from time on the end of a magnificent cross from Johann Gudmundsson, although the looming Goodison Park vacancy was inevitably on the post-match agenda.
Asked on Sky Sports what would happen if Everton made an approach, Dyche replied: “I just keep getting on with my job, as simple as that.
“We just keep getting on with it. That’s my focus and my team’s focus.
“We take each game as it come and we work on that, moving forward again. We keep that clarity of thought and I keep that clarity of thought myself.”
Jack Cork was named man of the match, shining as Burnley’s midfield fulcrum and playing a vital role in the build-up to Hendrick’s winner.
“It’s very difficult at this level to win games but we’ve often found a way and we did that with a very good goal,” Dyche said.
“I’ve never made out that we’re an expansive side that can have 600 passes a game because I don’t think that’s relevant to this group – but we can play a bit.
“The ball for the goal from Johann is a fantastic cross and there was a great press to start the moment for the goal. There were a lot of good signs there.”
There were suspicions of a foul by Steven Defour on Ayoze Perez before Cork seized possession in the game’s decisive moment, but Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez had no complaints.
“I think it was an even game, a game that we were controlling and we knew by scoring one goal we could win or, in this case, we could lose,” the Spaniard told Sky Sports.
“We made a mistake, we gave the ball away in the middle and we could not recover.
“We know our strengths and our weaknesses. We have to improve in everything but still I’m happy with the work rate of the players and how they are approaching every game.”
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Good man
Some player in his day. Was an outstanding kicker and playmaker and was a big hitter too to top it off. Was probably why he was injured so much.
Common in a lot of sportspeople with that all or nothing mentality. When they reach their lofty goals they’re left with an empty feeling. Good to hear he’s in a better place now.
Could be absolutely metronomic in his kicking. Class player. Good, honest piece!
In the words of Kevin Bridges “Did ye aye?”
I really feel for American college football players. Washed up at what, 22?
As a Irish man what a player and golden era of England 2000/2003 used to love watching England and copying Jonny Wilkinson kick technique.
Class player.
Probably just hungry
Paradise Syndrome.
As a Irish what a player and golden era of England 2000/2003 used to love watching England and copying Jonny Wilkinson kick technique.
@Mícheál Moran: his performance against Ireland in the 6N in 2003 was unreal . Ireland hammered him , he went off for treatment four times , each time he moved further and further back and cut ireland apart , dropping goals etc . Bracken the same that day . The both of them were smashed time after time and brushed it off . Then to think that JW played the whole 2003 RWC final with a broken collarbone . An awesome competitor .