Burnley 1-0 Newcastle: Sean Dyche's side up to seventh in the table and level on points with Liverpool as Jeff Hendrick rifles home late winner

  • In a game of few openings at Turf Moor on Monday both sides managed just one shot in target in the first half
  • Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope was forced into action to stop Ayoze Perez's curling shot from finding the net
  • Jeff Hendrick broke the deadlock after being found unmarked at the back post by Johann Berg Gudmundsson

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It was ever thus for Sean Dyche. Five years to the day might have passed since he growled into east Lancashire but efficiency is still winning the way it always has.

The anniversary was a fitting tribute to his time here. Not a Burnley display Dyche will particularly remember but one of huge significance regardless. Sitting seventh in the Premier League, level on points with Liverpool, his stock continues to rise.

Little wonder that Everton and West Ham are monitoring his progress. 'I just get on with my job,' Dyche straight-batted after a seventh 1-0 win since their return to the Premier League in 2016. 


Jeff Hendrick keeps his cool to rifle the ball into the back of the net from close range and put Burnley ahead

Jeff Hendrick keeps his cool to rifle the ball into the back of the net from close range and put Burnley ahead

The Irish international celebrates after finally breaking the deadlock at Turf Moor in the 74th minute on Monday night

The Irish international celebrates after finally breaking the deadlock at Turf Moor in the 74th minute on Monday night

Burnley's jubilant players pile on top of the goalscorer after finding a way through Newcastle's resilient back line

Burnley's jubilant players pile on top of the goalscorer after finding a way through Newcastle's resilient back line

PLAYER RATINGS, MATCH FACTS AND MATCH ZONE 

Burnley: Pope, Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Ward, Brady, Defour (Westwood 76), Cork, Gudmundsson, Hendrick, Barnes

Subs not used: Vokes, Wells, Lindegaard, Bardsley, Long, Arfield

Goalscorers: Hendrick 74 

Booked: Gudmundsson, Cork, Tarkowski 

Newcastle: Elliot, Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Manquillo, Diame (Gayle 83), Shelvey, Ritchie (Murphy 79), Perez (Hayden 76), Atsu, Joselu

Subs not used: Clark, Saivet, Darlow, Jesus Gamez

Referee: Mike Dean

Season at a glance

  • Premier League
  • Premier League
  • Championship
  • League One
  • League Two
  • Scottish Premiership
  • Scottish Div 1
  • Scottish Div 2
  • Scottish Div 3
  • Ligue 1
  • Serie A
  • La Liga
  • Bundesliga

 

Jeff Hendrick gets on the end of a Johann Berg Gudmundsson to fire Burnley ahead. CLICK HERE for more from MATCH ZONE

Jeff Hendrick gets on the end of a Johann Berg Gudmundsson to fire Burnley ahead. CLICK HERE for more from MATCH ZONE

 

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He is the master of marginal gains. Burnley wait and wait for their opportunities, for that moment when quality takes over and it presented itself again on Monday night.

A dreary draw beckoned as the clock turned to the 74th minute. Jack Cork drove into the box and thrashed an effort at Rob Elliot. The save bounced to Johann Berg Gudmundsson and then came the guile.

Under pressure, he calmly crossed to the back post without a second's thought. Jeff Hendrick waited patiently before firing high into Elliot's net. 

'Our pressing for that was fantastic,' Dyche said. 'We got a nibble and were straight back into them. You can disorganise a back four.'

Rival clubs have taken notice and will continue to do so. Leicester, who eventually appointed Claude Puel, had a serious look. It is believed the size of Dyche's close-knit backroom staff was too much for them to consider solidifying their interest and in turn shell out that £2.5million in compensation.

One suitor will come knocking sooner rather than later and Burnley just hope that headache does not thud in the middle of a season. The memory of Owen Coyle's defection to Bolton Wanderers in 2010 still haunts. 

Newcastle striker Ayoze Perez battles for the ball alongside Burnley defender James Tarkowski in the opening stages

Newcastle striker Ayoze Perez battles for the ball alongside Burnley defender James Tarkowski in the opening stages

Burnley's Stephen Ward looks to get on the front foot as Newcastle winger Matt Ritchie blocks his progress forward

Burnley's Stephen Ward looks to get on the front foot as Newcastle winger Matt Ritchie blocks his progress forward

Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope clutches the ball to his chest as Newcastle winger Christian Atsu takes evasive action

Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope clutches the ball to his chest as Newcastle winger Christian Atsu takes evasive action

Burnley defender James Tarkowski gets his foot to the ball ahead of Newcastle's Spanish striker Joselu

Burnley defender James Tarkowski gets his foot to the ball ahead of Newcastle's Spanish striker Joselu

Burnley midfielder Jack Cork applies pressure on Newcastle striker Ayoze Perez during Monday night's game

Burnley midfielder Jack Cork applies pressure on Newcastle striker Ayoze Perez during Monday night's game

Jack Cork attempts to get the ball under control as Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey watches on from behind

Jack Cork attempts to get the ball under control as Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey watches on from behind

Burnley defender Tarkowski looks to get on the end of a cross as Newcastle goalkeeper Rob Elliot makes himself big

Burnley defender Tarkowski looks to get on the end of a cross as Newcastle goalkeeper Rob Elliot makes himself big

Shelvey watches the path of the ball after a collision between team-mate Jamaal Lascelles and Ashley Barnes

Shelvey watches the path of the ball after a collision between team-mate Jamaal Lascelles and Ashley Barnes

Newcastle centre back Florian Lejeune battles for the ball in an aerial duel with Burnley striker Ashley Barnes

Newcastle centre back Florian Lejeune battles for the ball in an aerial duel with Burnley striker Ashley Barnes

'The more success Sean gets the more people will look at him,' chairman Mike Garlick said on Monday night. 'But we look after him well and hopefully he'll be here a long time.'

Seventh after 10 games; who would have thought that possible when Dyche pitched up in 2012?

These are heady days and his influence on that cannot be overstated. Coupled with the two promotions comes the new £10.6m training facility. That, Dyche said before this, would be his true legacy when he does inevitably depart for pastures new.

He was rightfully keen to not take sole credit for the transformation, but not every manager would be quite so accommodating when their bosses have such grand plans that it directly impacts on the budget.

That will also interest other boards. Dyche oversaw a £14m profit in the summer transfer window with the departures of Michael Keane and Andre Gray. He has not bleated yet there are reasonable questions, ones he must be asking himself right now, as to how far he can actually take Burnley.

For now, the eyes are looking up. 'We're not a recognised Premier League club yet,' Dyche said. 'You have to deliver consistently. We are earning respect but there is still more work to be done. It's not a sprint unfortunately.

'I have never made out we can be an expansive side and can have 600 passes in a game because that is not relevant to this group but we can play a bit.'

Newcastle striker Joselu rises highest to get his head to the ball ahead of  Tarkowski on Monday night

Newcastle striker Joselu rises highest to get his head to the ball ahead of Tarkowski on Monday night

Burnley midfielder Johann Berg Gudmundsson gets his foot on the ball as he looks to drive his side upfield

Burnley midfielder Johann Berg Gudmundsson gets his foot on the ball as he looks to drive his side upfield

Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope was at full stretch to reach Perez's curling shot and stop it creeping into the net

Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope was at full stretch to reach Perez's curling shot and stop it creeping into the net

 Newcastle goalkeeper  Elliot gratefully clutches a loose ball to his chest during the second half at Turf Moor

 Newcastle goalkeeper Elliot gratefully clutches a loose ball to his chest during the second half at Turf Moor

Newcastle striker Joselu clutches his groin after taking a blow in the nether regions from Pope after half-time

Newcastle striker Joselu clutches his groin after taking a blow in the nether regions from Pope after half-time

Cork and Steven Defour were aggressive going forward from midfield for the hosts but chances were at a premium. Hendrick's flashed shot wide inside 34 seconds was about as good as it got until his eventual winner.

For Newcastle, Christian Atsu should have done better early on when he fired over. Ayoze Perez forced Nick Pope into a sprawling save as the visitors rallied late - Isaac Hayden and Javier Manquillo almost equalising - but Burnley were in control.

'We edged it,' Dyche added. 'There was a calmness to our play. We've found that a bit more this season. They just stuck at it, trying to find ways of affecting it.'

Newcastle were disorganised when Burnley found a second wind in the final quarter and Rafa Benitez summed it up eloquently.

'We made a mistake (before the goal) and afterwards we were out of position,' he said. 'We had chances but these kind of games you have to make sure you're strong enough in defence. They have to make that mistake they didn't.' 

Burnley rarely do under Dyche.

Belgium boss Roberto Martinez (left) was joined by Wigan chairman David Sharpe as he watched Burnley's Steven Defour

Belgium boss Roberto Martinez (left) was joined by Wigan chairman David Sharpe as he watched Burnley's Steven Defour

The players observed a minute's silence in the centre circle ahead of Remembrance Sunday next month

The players observed a minute's silence in the centre circle ahead of Remembrance Sunday next month

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