Sean Dyche v Frank de Boer focus
Frank de Boer and Sean Dyche shake hands before the match
They stood just yards apart for most of the afternoon but seldom could the respective fortunes of two managers have offered such a stark contrast as those of Sean Dyche and Frank de Boer at Turf Moor.
Dyche is so deeply embedded in the Burnley project that he probably has a job for life if he wants one - while De Boer finds his own position in jeopardy after just four pointless Premier League games.
Here Press Association Sport pits the pair head-to-head on a day which kick-started the Clarets' top-flight campaign - and proved yet another one to forget for the Eagles.
TACTICS
Both managers switched to 4-4-2 formations and the reactions were telling. Dyche's side did so seamlessly, Chris Wood coming in to join Sam Vokes up front and scoring in under three minutes - albeit with the help of Lee Chung-yong's massive howler. De Boer's switch seemed rooted in more reluctance - he said before the match he wanted to take his players back to their "comfort zone". Lee ensured it didn't last long.
STYLE
Lee's blunder apart, Palace adapted to their new system reasonably well, sustaining high pressure on the Burnley back line and showing glimpses of the kind of style De Boer clearly covets - albeit with no reward. But while Palace are clearly still adapting, the home side looked utterly comfortable with their manager's instructions, and for all the defending they had to do in an occasionally torrid first period, it would just about pay off.
DEMEANOUR
As ever, Dyche stalked the touchline and was the source of constant, gravelly-voiced encouragement for his side. De Boer also spent the majority of the match in his technical area, but seemed distinctly less comfortable and certainly more muted than his counterpart. He departed stony-faced with chants of "You're getting sacked in the morning" from the home fans ringing in his ears.
MOOD
De Boer tried to cut an upbeat figure in the post-match press conference, insisting the performance gave his side a good platform upon which they can belatedly get their season up and running - but whether he gets the time to prove his point remains debatable. Dyche accepted the points and admitted his side would have to continue to "fight" to win more. Unlike De Boer, he is likely to stick around long enough to see it happen.
FUTURE
De Boer can expect a call from Palace chairman Steve Parish - with the smart money on defeat to Burnley being the last straw. Meanwhile Dyche continues to build his own reputation, and can look forward to plenty more Premier League afternoons.
