TURF MOOR — A draw may not have done either Burnley or Sheffield United favours in their bid for European football but, in the overall scheme of things, perhaps Sean Dyche and Chris Wilder will not be too disconsolate at that “setback”.
After all, by any reasonable metric, two of the biggest over-achievers in the history of the Premier League can already consign this season to the “resounding success” column.
For Dyche’s Burnley, still in with a good chance of qualifying for the Europa League for the second time in three years, a fifth consecutive season of top flight football has long since been assured – the first time in half a century their supporters can enjoy that sort of unbroken run.
And Wilder’s United? Much has been said and written about their achievements in doing likewise, securing consecutive Premier League campaigns for the first time since 1993.
But an occasional foray into recent history is never a bad idea when trying to put Wilder’s achievements into perspective.
After all, a little over five years ago while Burnley were exiting the Premier League ready to bounce back 12 months later at the first time of asking, their visitors were stuck in League One.
A dispiriting end to the season saw then-manager Nigel Clough fail to win any of his last five games against powerhouses Oldham, Yeovil, Bradford, Leyton Orient and Chesterfield and then enter the play-offs, which they exited swiftly after a bizarre 5-5 draw with Swindon.
For Wilder’s team to be three points clear of Tottenham and within seven points of Manchester United and a possible Champions League place must rank as one of the most unlikely football rags to riches stories of recent times.
Given the water-thin squads that both managers have to operate with, the notion has been raised that missing out on Europe may be a blessing in disguise but Dyche was, surely, talking for his friend Wilder when he countered that claim.
“People keep putting Europe on us but that was never our aim at the start of the season,” Dyche said.
“Our first aim is to make sure we stay in the Premier League, the chairman will tell you that. The second aim is to finish as high in the table as we possibly can.
“We’ve currently got our second highest points total ever, for this stage of the season, so I’m not going to be critical of the players, that’s for sure.
“Yes, playing in Europe definitely affects your group but, on the other hand, you want to finish as strong as you can and it’s another badge of honour if you can get into Europe, for a club like ours or Sheffield United. It’s very difficult but you want that badge of honour. We’ve had it once, let’s see what we can do again.”
Dyche’s short-term personnel problems have not been helped by the news, delivered post-match, that Jack Cork probably requires ankle surgery and is out for the season while inspirational defender Ben Mee will be absent for some time with a thigh problem.
The Blades have operated with similar limitations although they might have been looking at all three points had the first half drinks break not seen a remarkable shift in momentum away from Wilder’s side.
“It’s not a drinks break, it’s a tactical time-out really,” said Wilder. “The game’s been turned into four quarters.
“I was delighted to have my Bovril after 22 minutes. I’ve never had a Bovril in July during a game before but I didn’t think anything should have been changed after lockdown – whether substitutions, the number of subs, drink breaks.
“You certainly didn’t need one at Turf Moor with these temperatures and with the wind howling around the ground.”
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from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3f2slBf
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