‘WE CAN’T DROP TODAY’S LEVELS’ SAYS KOMPANY

Clarets boss takes positives from performance against the Cherries

Manager Vincent Kompany acknowledged the disappointment of falling to defeat at Turf Moor against AFC Bournemouth, but was pleased to see the performance and energy his side displayed and the positive response from last weekend’s trip to Selhurst Park.

Despite the Clarets dominating the encounter with 20 shots on goal overall and six on target testing Neto between the sticks, it was an early strike from Justin Kluivert and a late goal from Antoine Semenyo that proved to be the difference between the two sides.

Speaking to the media post-match on Sunday afternoon, Kompany said: “After the result and performance against Crystal Palace last week, I did think we put in the energy that we need to put into this game.

“I could be wrong, but I think we put in more shots and more chances than any other game we’ve played in the Premier League so far this season, so the energy was there and that was good to see.

“Even after conceding such an unfortunate goal, we carried on. But the frustration has to substitute into the next game, what we can’t do now is drop the energy levels we had today.”

The Clarets conceded after 13 minutes played, a goal which Kompany said was ‘avoidable’ but highlighted being ‘punished’ in key moments in the top-flight.

“Yeah, it was (avoidable). There’s no two ways about it. But it’s the type of league that will punish you in these types of moments. It can be the reason why you concede but also the reason why you don’t score, that’s just part of operating at this level.

“You give yourself a little bit more of the right to talk about it when you have a performance like today, but in the end the disappointment is that you can’t capitalise on something that had so many positive elements.”

Kompany added: “The key thing is to keep faith in your players. I said to them I can fully put my name to this performance and I can fully be accountable for every aspect of it, the failures and the positives. I have no issue with it.

“It was more difficult for us as a group to accept the Crystal Palace performance. It’s not something that was coming but it happened in an important moment.

“Now the side of scoring a goal or keeping the ball out of the net, it’s really as simple as believing, as the players will turn the corner. Believe that they’re able to do it.”

Burnley had a goal ruled out in the second half as Josh Cullen steered it in from close range from Jacob Bruun Larsen’s header but the Dane was adjudged to foul Adam Smith in the build-up.

Kompany was asked about what would have been the equaliser and was naturally disappointed at the goal being chalked off.

“I want you to note how calm and rational I am being about this, but in the context of this game, you can allow or disallow this goal and have a 50/50 divide on people saying ‘when you’re in England you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do when the ball goes to the back stick, you’ve got to jump right’. He jumped earlier than his full-back.

“Then there’s another part that will say ‘yeah, he probably didn’t make contact with the ball’ so it’s 50/50 and you follow the on-field decision.

“But if you zoom out a little bit and you put this goal against the goal we conceded against Luton, because we’re talking about impeding a player while you’re not making contact with the ball. That’s exactly what happened in the Luton game.

“In that moment you don’t give a foul, in this moment you do give a foul and they’re key deciding factors. That side of it is difficult to handle this season. They’re simple things as well.”