
Premier League
Crystal Palace 0 Burnley 3

Dyche shines in potential Palace audition

In the frame: is Dyche on the move?
In the frame: is Dyche on the move?

THAT Sean Dyche has stayed loyal to the same coat for years in the Premier League was considered, by Aston Villa’s John McGinn, a reason to poke fun at the Burnley manager.

That is if a social media clip detailing an exchange between the pair that went viral last week is to be believed.

And Dyche’s trusted jacket will be dusted off again for another top-flight campaign next season on this evidence. Which dugout he will be sporting it in is less certain.

It is likely a coincidence that Burnley played like a Dyche side at their best against a club who could be looking at him this summer. But as showcases go it could not have gone much better, with Burnley’s most emphatic win of the season coming in front of Palace chairman Steve Parish.

Burnley were excellent as they pulled clear of the bottom three. They scored three different types of goal via Johann Gudmundsson, Jay Rodriguez and Matt Lowton and, when Palace rallied, put their bodies on the line to preserve a clean sheet.

Even Roy Hodgson had to admit Burnley were not only better but showed many of the qualities he would like to see from his team.

There is plenty to be resolved in Palace’s long-term managerial situation, with Hodgson’s contract up at the end of the season.

Performances like this are unlikely to help him as club chiefs weigh up their options but Palace’s injury situation has to be considered. They are well clear of relegation and Hodgson knows what it takes to keep that crucial Premier League status.

A new manager would be part of a summer upheaval at Palace, with 16 players out of contract.

However, securing Dyche would involve a significant compensation fee and Palace’s finances have been hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Burnley have new owners following ALK Capital’s takeover last month, and new chairman Alan Pace has big plans.

This win was a prime example of what Dyche can do with a squad built with a minimal budget. It would have pleased Burnley, but only further intrigued his supporters at Palace.

CRYSTAL PALACE (4-4-2): Guaita 6; Clyne 5, Dann 5, Kouyate 5, Van Aanholt 5; Ayew 5.5, Milivojevic 5, Riedewald 6, Eze 6; Benteke 5 (Mateta 76min), Batshuayi 5 (Townsend 62, 6). Subs not used: Butland, Ward, Cahill, Mitchell, Kelly. Booked: None. Manager: Roy Hodgson 5.

BURNLEY (4-4-2): Pope 8; Lowton 8.5, Tarkowski 8, Mee 8 (Long 84), Pieters 7.5 (Bardsley 87); Gudmundsson 7.5 (Brady 72, 6), Cork 7.5, Westwood 8, McNeil 7.5; Rodriguez 8, Barnes 8. Subs not used: Peacock-Farrell, Brownhill, Stephens, Dunne, Glennon, Mumbongo. Scorers: Gudmundsson 5, Rodriguez 10, Lowton 47. Booked: None. Manager: Sean Dyche 9.

Referee: Michael Oliver 8.