Barnes is spot on as Dyche curse is ended

THE curse was broken, the painful run ended: Burnley were awarded a penalty for the first time in 68 games yesterday. Only two clubs in the history of this division have ever endured a longer wait.

The penalty arrived deep into stoppage time, engineered by the nuisance of debutant Peter Crouch, and converted by Ashley Barnes to preserve a point. Yet for so long it appeared Sean Dyche would again by cursing at referees for inconsistencies.

Burnley were already furious by the time Nathan Redmond thumped in a stunning 55th-minute opener. Anthony Taylor had refused the hosts a penalty when Barnes sprawled under Alex McCarthy’s challenge, then cautioned the striker for diving.

Dyche and the Burnley faithful often say that they feel that the world is against them. Dyche admitted that he would have gone ballistic had the injurytime penalty not been given, after Jack Stephens handled Crouch’s header.

‘I’m flummoxed at the first one,’ Dyche said of the claim for a penalty that was not given.

‘It’s as clear a penalty as I’ve seen. There is no question on any level.

‘He falls naturally. When people dive they get penalties. When they fall naturally they don’t. That has to be worrying.’

Dyche went so far as to suggest that he may have been unable to carry out the post-match press conference if the late penalty had not been awarded. ‘If that hadn’t have been given, I don’t know how I would’ve conducted this,’ he said. ‘It would’ve been mental.

‘I dare not even ask in the referees’ room. There is no point going in there any more. I just don’t know what to say about it, I’m a bit lost with it all.’

Dyche joked that he thought Danny Ings — the former Burnley striker who was forced off with injury after missing a huge early chance for Southampton — might have stepped up to take the Burnley penalty, given the years between this and their last one.

Ralph Hasenhuttl had no complaints at the penalty, only the cruelty of its timing. ‘I said “head up” to Jack because he made a fantastic game,’ the Southampton manager said. ‘Crouch was clever.’

Earlier, Taylor was not. Barnes could not claim to having been in complete control of Phil Bardsley’s long ball as it rolled away from goal but McCarthy’s momentum sent him sprawling.

Taylor deliberated and deduced that the Burnley striker dived. Barnes did not take the news well. Dyche marched up the touchline. Even placid assistant Ian Woan started jabbing fingers towards fourth official Martin Atkinson. Barnes was fortunate not to see red, as he berated referee’s assistant Adam Nunn.

‘VAR will help,’ Dyche said, hopefully. ‘It would’ve been a travesty if we didn’t get a point.’

Burnley have now gone six games without defeat and head to Brighton next week in search of their longest unbeaten Premier League run.

Southampton went ahead 10 minutes after half-time. Redmond took possession in midfield and drove towards goal, defenders backing off and Jack Cork dangling a leg. He let fly and, as Barnes later fluffed chances and hammered the bar, Dyche stared at a first defeat since Boxing Day.

The introduction of Crouch, who the manager affectionately describes as an ‘odd figure’, had given them an edge though. Stephens had his hand up, Taylor pointed to the spot and Barnes slotted home with seconds left.