Burnley 0-0 West Brom: Sam Allardyce praises ‘one of best’ 10-man performances

West Brom improve but need points – Allardyce

West Brom boss Sam Allardyce says his squad put on some of the best 10-man performances he’d ever seen when Burnley drew in a goalless draw.

The Baggies have conceded their first goal since November 28, despite Semi Ajayi’s sacking in the first half.

And while the point did little to increase her hopes of relegation – they’re 11 points behind safety – Allardyce was pleased with what he saw.

“We’re showing how much we’re improving,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“It was one of the best 10-man performances I’ve ever seen in my time.

“I’ve actually won a lot of games with 10 men and this one deserved a 10-man win, but unfortunately we have to kick ourselves for missing the golden opportunities.”

Matheus Pereira was the main culprit in this regard. The Brazilian somehow missed his kick in the middle of the six-yard line, only Nick Pope could beat him after being pitched by Mbaye Diagne.

In the melee that followed, Pereira was unable to bring home a cross from Ainsley Maitland-Niles when James Tarkowski finally cleared.

Pereira also narrowly went into the lower corner with a low shot in the opening phase until Pope parried.

When it came to missing chances, Diagne wasn’t flawless either, shooting the bar from six yards after cutting into Tarkovsky.

Darnell Furlong and Maitland-Niles also threatened Burnley’s goal, but failure to score compounded the frustration of a West Brom side who played one man less in the final hour after Ajayi were sent off for deliberate handball was.

Sean Dyches Burnley hasn’t been particularly inspiring going forward. Indeed, the hosts were limited to just one shot on goal as West Brom comfortably conceded their first clean sheet after 15 games.

But the penultimate West Brom remains in massive trouble while the point of an uninspiring Burnley outfit takes a little closer to safety, despite staying in 15th place.

“I’m happy in the end because we were absolutely miles away from it,” said Dyche.

“I’m not going to be too critical because I ask a lot of players. They looked physically and mentally exhausted today.

“During a season, conceding a goal is an enjoyable thing and another point on the table. We’re not the real deal and we’re stretched enough to accept the point.”

Burnley 0-0 West Brom: Sean Dyche criticizes “undetectable errors”

Referee Dean back in the spotlight

Referee Mike Dean did not take responsibility for a Premier League game last weekend to remove him from the limelight after his recent decisions to dismiss Southampton’s Jan Bednarek and West Ham’s Tomas Soucek – both following VAR’s intervention , had been repealed.

The officer must have felt a sense of fear when Michael Oliver told him to look back at Ajeyi’s crime.

In truth, that decision was straightforward and Dean didn’t hesitate to swing his 111th Premier League red card. The 52-year-old has shown 44 more referees than any other referee in the history of the competition.

He explained to Furlong and Maitland-Niles as they walked into the locker room at halftime that once Ajeyi’s hand was found to be moving towards the ball it had to be a red card – although Matej Vydra had a long way to go, if he should score.

Mike Dean has shown four red cards in the last three games he whistled

Under the circumstances, however, it came as a surprise that Dean wasn’t brought back to screen early in the second half when Albion skipper Kyle Bartley controlled a Conor Townsend header with an outstretched arm in his own box.

Baggie’s fear of relegation

West Brom’s fighting continued throughout Allardyce’s tenure, with defense a major issue.

A routine early cross from Burnley defender Matt Lowton, who unmarked Jay Rodriguez between Ajeyi and Bartley, did not suggest that game day defensive work should be transferred.

Missing Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood, Burnley turned out to be largely lifeless. Josh Brownhill had a couple of tries on goal but Rodriguez’s try was the best they had.

Burnley didn’t have to win, though. Your job now is to keep others – including West Brom – at bay.

And just like last week against Manchester United, Allardyce will be wondering why his team didn’t get the maximum number of points.

How the Pereira tap-in did not get into the network was incomprehensible. The only plausible explanation, other than a wobble, was the momentary panic.

Allardyce can take comfort from his team, which is more like the team he wants – and two games unbeaten for the second time this season. But West Brom need points – and they didn’t get enough for the second game in a row.

The Albion manager added: “It makes it harder because another game has passed and we haven’t accumulated points for nearby teams to pressure them and make them believe we are on our way and catch up. ”

“We’re very, very close, but unfortunately – because of our final today and against Manchester United – not close enough.”

Send number 111 for Dean – the statistics

• West Brom’s last conceded goal before was a 1-0 home win over Sheffield United in November.
• Burnley has won just one of their eight Premier League games with West Brom (D4 L3), winning 2-1 at the Hawthorns in March 2018.
• The last two cases West Brom received a red card and avoided losing a Premier League game were both against Burnley (also 1-0 in August 2017).
• Since the beginning of last season, Burnley have played 24 clean sheets in the Premier League, only Manchester City (31) have more during this time.
• Mike Dean swung the 111th red card of his Premier League career – Phil Dowd is on the list at 67.
• West Brom defender Semi Ajayi was shown a red card for the first time in his English league career on his 186th appearance (including play-offs).

What’s next?

Burnley’s next game is on Sunday February 28th (14:00 GMT) in Tottenham Hotspur. West Brom have another game against Brighton, The Brightthorns, on Saturday February 27th (15:00 GMT).

Player of the game

PopeNick Pope

Burnley

1. Cadre number1PlayernamePope

2. Cadre number5PlayernameTarkovsky

3. Cadre number6thPlayernameAlong

4. Cadre number2PlayernameLowton

5. Cadre number3PlayernameTaylor

6. Cadre number8thPlayernameBrownhill

7. Cadre number4thPlayernamecork

8. Cadre number27Playernameotter

9. Cadre number11PlayernameMcNeil

10. Cadre number18thPlayernameWestwood

11. Cadre number19thPlayernameRodriguez

12. Cadre number46PlayernameIn the brain

West Bromwich Albion

1. Cadre number30thPlayernameMaitland-Niles

2. Cadre number1PlayernameJohnstone

3. Cadre number18thPlayernameGallagher

4. Cadre number35Playernamemorning

5. Cadre number5PlayernameBartley

6. Cadre number12PlayernameMatheus Pereira

7. Cadre number2PlayernameEighth mile

8. Cadre number17thPlayernameDiagne

9. Cadre number14thPlayernameTownsend

10. Cadre number27PlayernameO’Shea

11. Cadre number10PlayernamePhillips

12. Cadre number6thPlayernameAjayi

Constellations

Burnley

formation 4-4-2

1Pope

2Lowton5Tarkovsky6thAlong3Taylor

8thBrownhill4thcork18thWestwood11McNeil

19thRodriguez27otter

• 1Pope
• 2LowtonBooked at 90 minutes
• 5Tarkovsky
• 6thAlongBooked at 90 minutes
• 3Taylor
• 8thBrownhill
• 4thcorkBooked at 76 minutes
• 18thWestwood
• 11McNeil
• 19thRodriguezReplaced byIn the brainat the 81 ‘protocol
• 27otter

replacement

• 15thPeacock Farrell
• 25thNorris
• 26thBardsley
• 28Long
• 31Nartey
• 34Dunne
• 41Benson
• 45Driscoll-Glennon
• 46In the brain

West Brom

formation 4-1-4-1

1Johnstone

2Eighth mile6thAjayi5Bartley14thTownsend

35morning

12Costa Pereira18thGallagher30thMaitland-Niles10Phillips

17thDiagne

• 1Johnstone
• 2Eighth mile
• 6thAjayiBooked at 30 minutes
• 5Bartley
• 14thTownsend
• 35morning
• 12Costa Pereira
• 18thGallagher
• 30thMaitland-Niles
• 10PhillipsReplaced byO’Sheaat the 32 ‘protocol
• 17thDiagne

replacement

• 4thRobson canoe
• 7thRobinson
• 8thLivermore
• 11Diangana
• 19thSawyers
• 22ndPeltier
• 25thbutton
• 27O’Shea
• 29Grant

Live text

1. End of the game, Burnley 0, West Bromwich Albion 0.

2. The second half ends, Burnley 0, West Bromwich Albion 0.

3. Matthew Lowton (Burnley) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

4. Foul by Matthew Lowton (Burnley).

5. Ainsley Maitland-Niles (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

6. Ben Mee (Burnley) is shown the yellow card.

7. Foul by Ben Mee (Burnley).

8. Mbaye Diagne (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

9. Off to Burnley. Ashley Westwood tries a through ball, but Matej Vydra is offside.

10. Corner, Burnley. The corner was caused by Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

11. Off to Burnley. Ashley Westwood tries a through ball, but Matej Vydra is offside.

12. Corner, Burnley. The corner was scored by Darnell Furlong.

13. Offside West Bromwich Albion. Mbaye Diagne attempts a pass, but Matheus Pereira is caught offside.

14. Substitution, Burnley. Joel Mumbongo replaces Jay Rodriguez.

15. Offside West Bromwich Albion. Conor Gallagher tries a through ball, but Mbaye Diagne is caught offside.

16. Corner of West Bromwich Albion. The corner was created by Nick Pope.

17. Attempt blocked. Matheus Pereira (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

18. Offside West Bromwich Albion. Ainsley Maitland-Niles tries a through ball, but Matheus Pereira is caught offside.

19. Corner of West Bromwich Albion. The corner was caused by Matthew Lowton.

20. Jack Cork (Burnley) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.