Dyche praises Leeds but stays silent on incident with referee, Bielsa

Sean Dyche, Marcelo Bielsa, referee Graham Scott, Burnley v Leeds

Sean Dyche credited Leeds for their performance against his Burnley side – but insisted the four-goal margin was slightly harsh on his side.

Two goals from substitute Rodrigo crowned a solid display from the Yorkshiremen at Turf Moor. It means Leeds are closing on a top-half finish and brought up an impressive goals stat in the process. It’s been a brilliant season back in the Premier League for Marcelo Bielsa’s side. It also means they have suffered just one defeat – at Brighton – in their last nine games.

Burnley started both halves the stronger of the two sides. However, when two chances came their way, they were unable to take them with Illan Meslier making two good saves.

Asked afterwards if the 4-0 down was harsh on his side, he told the BBC: “Slightly. But the game went as I expected. They like to make it a basketball game. Leeds have been fantastic this season… We weren’t a million miles off but we weren’t as clinical as them.

“We had a big emotional result on Monday. After that, we gave the players and couple of days off and started ever so brightly.

“We conceded against the flow of the game from a kind of Leeds moment when the game gets stretched. And then it was kind of one of those strange halves where you think we are not a million miles away. They get an early goal and we have two golden chances and we don’t take them and they do.

“There was not much in the game but they were very clinical and we weren’t.”

Dyche admitted injuries have affected his side this season, but was delighted to preserve their Premier League status.

“It’s hard to tinker when you haven’t got many players. Mostly we carry around 20 players and there’ve been times when we’ve had seven injuries so it’s been a bit stretched let’s say,” he added.

“We have got 39 points and earned the right to be in the Premier League. We need to build. I really like the club record of being in the Premier League season on season.

“Different results can happen, fans have not been in stadiums there have been lots of different things [to contend with].”


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Dyche stays silent on referee, Bielsa chat

One of the talking points during the game came after referee Graham Scott called together Dyche and Bielsa to address an on-pitch incident.

That happened after an apparent confrontation between Leeds star Gjanni Alioski and Clarets midfielder Dwight McNeil.

Dyche though was giving nothing away on what the referee said to the pair. But he did reveal the incident would be reported to the FA as a result.

“There was a report made to the referee about an incident on the pitch, reported by one of my players. It will be dealt with by the FA,” the Clarets boss said.

READ MOREDyche insists treatment of shining Leeds United light was justified