Burnley boss Dyche hails ‘big shift’ after third successive Premier League win

Burnley boss Sean Dyche said the Clarets had taken “another big step forward” after they recorded their third successive Premier League win in the 2-1 victory over Fulham at Turf Moor.

Saturday’s come-from-behind defeat of the Cottagers, in which Burnley profited from two own goals and did not register an effort on target, extended a winning streak that has also seen them triumph 2-0 against West Ham and 2-1 at Huddersfield.

In their last outing before that they suffered a ninth loss in 11 games as they were thrashed 5-1 by Everton on Boxing Day.

That loss left them 18th in the table, three points from safety, but they are now 15th, three points above the relegation zone.

Dyche said after the clash with second-bottom Fulham: “We all know that’s a big game, an important game.

“And three wins in the Premier League, two of them coming from one goal down to win as well, it’s good for the mentality and good for the points and the table of course.

“We’re getting some way back. This doesn’t solve everything, but three wins back-to-back is difficult in the Premier League.

“It’s another big step forward, for the mentality, for the productivity of the side – and I think we can play better (than they did against Fulham), as we have in the previous two league games.

“It (winning three in a row) brings a feeling, it encourages the mentality we have already got. There are no guarantees, but it is a big shift for us.”

After Andre Schurrle’s superb early strike had put the visitors ahead, Fulham defenders Joe Bryan and Denis Odoi both inadvertently beat goalkeeper Sergio Rico in quick succession.

Jeff Hendrick’s fierce hit was diverted past Rico by Bryan in the 20th minute and three minutes later Odoi headed in after Hendrick crossed.

Dyche praised midfielder Hendrick, who had been asked to play on the right in the absence of other players.

He said: “I was really pleased. Some people give him the odd question mark. But we ask a job of him, all sorts of different positions and I thought he’s delivered again.”

Hendrick was unsure whether he could claim the goal.

The Republic of Ireland international said on Burnley’s official website: “I don’t know. I haven’t seen it back.

“I tried to look at it on the screen when I was trotting back. But once we got the goal, (Saturday) was about the three points.”

He added: “It is massive. Every game is massive, to keep the momentum going the way we have been playing the last few games and the results we’ve picked up.

“It’s good to keep that going and hopefully we can continue that.”