Burnley 2-2 Birmingham: Reaction from Sean Dyche and Gary Rowett
Saturday 15 August 2015 16:27, UK
Sean Dyche credited Burnley's spirit as they twice came from behind in a 2-2 draw with Birmingham, but the Clarets boss was less upbeat about two key refereeing decisions which he felt went against his men at Turf Moor.
Substitute Matthew Taylor curled an 81st-minute free-kick in off the underside of the crossbar to ensure the hosts earned a share of the spoils after Paul Caddis' penalty, contentiously won by Clayton Donaldson off Tendayi Darikwa, had put Blues on course for a third 2-1 victory in in eight days.
Michael Keane had headed in Burnley's first equaliser in the second half to cancel out Jon Toral's early opener but Dyche felt the game would have had a rather different complexion had referee David Coote awarded a spot-kick when Jonathan Spector tangled with Lukas Jutkiewicz from behind in the fifth minute.
"The whole game, I think, would have been considerably different on a decision," said Dyche.
"When it's that blatant on Jutkiewicz...it's unfathomable to me. I was a defender, the defender's done and he's panicked. It's not only a penalty but he goes off the pitch.
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"Then you have the contentious other penalty. Their lad (Donaldson) runs in an unnatural manner, stands on our lad's (Darikwa) toes and goes down. Two big decisions go against us."
As it was, set-piece specialist Taylor's first goal for Burnley gave them a second straight draw, following on from a similarly late substitute's contribution from Sam Vokes at Leeds seven days earlier.
"We've certainly laid down a good mental marker because we've come from behind three times in the last two games," Dyche added.
"There's no problem with the mentality. The structure's good, the energy's good. It's just those defining moments we need to tidy up. We've had enough chances today and enough dominant periods in the game to win the match. Sometimes things go against you."
Birmingham boss Gary Rowett shared Dyche's frustration over the official - although his stemmed from a foul awarded against David Cotterill on Michael Kightly, from which Keane headed in at the back post.
However, he was effusive in his praise for his men and thought they could have left east Lancashire with the spoils in Burnley's first home game following relegation last term.
"I said to the players I'm so proud of their work ethic and how they've played, how they've coped with the pressure of coming to Burnley," Rowett added.
"I'm sure one or two teams will get washed away here in the first 10-15 minutes. I thought we showed great composure. One or two better decisions in the final third and we could have added to our goal tally. Second half you know they are going to put you under pressure. Overall, I thought we dealt with that well.
"I'm disappointed with the first goal. I felt it was a cheap free-kick that the lad bought on the wing. I'd have to see it again. The referee at times needed to be stronger in those areas.
"Burnley did what they were very good at. I'm not disappointed with a point, but there's a little part of me that felt we might have got the three."