Mauricio Pellegrino was left frustrated and a little perplexed. Southampton had just become the latest victims of a Burnley side built on industry, discipline and organisation. There’s nothing flashy about them but there doesn’t need to be. For the vast majority of the match, the visitors held firm in the face of a Saints onslaught before springing a late surprise.
“We did everything we had to do against an opponent that was defending 90% of the game,” said Pellegrino. “We were much better than them in all different aspects of the game apart from efficiency. They had one chance and scored. It is really painful for us, we did everything. The intensity and football was good, but we lost.”
Several opposition managers have already been in a similar situation, pondering how they somehow conspired to lose a game that had been theirs for the taking. It was a vintage win for Burnley, their fifth in the league this season. All have been by a single goal margin, and achieved despite seeing less of the ball than their opponents.
While Sam Vokes scored with Burnley’s only shot on target, Southampton were thwarted by Nick Pope on three occasions. One came after he’d fumbled a cross but made amends by acrobatically tipping over Maya Yoshida’s effort. Overall, it was another solid display and another clean sheet to add to a growing collection. Although Pope didn’t expect to be in this position, he’s making the most of it.
Only 25 and with his best years to come, he has taken a long route to the top. After being released by Ipswich Town, Pope’s started out in non-League before earning a move to Charlton in 2011. It wasn’t until his final season that he was able to establish himself as the club’s first choice goalkeeper, starting 28 games in all competitions as the Addicks were relegated to League One.
Even then, there was a prolonged spell on the sidelines. It’s something Pope grew accustomed to after moving to Burnley last summer. A place on the substitutes’ bench was often a distant dream for the young goalkeeper, who was behind both Tom Heaton and Paul Robinson in the pecking order. He played four cup games but was most often third in line.
Still learning his trade, Pope spent last season as far away from the spotlight as possible. He seemed content to linger in the background until an unexpected sequence of events thrust him into the firing line. Robinson's retirement, followed by Heaton's shoulder injury, saw him elevated into the starting line-up. Expected to be a weakness that others could exploit, he's more than held his own.
Pope was first called on midway through a game against Crystal Palace after Heaton fell awkwardly. He helped to preserve a clean sheet and has picked up a further four in his eight league appearances so far. Defensive solidity has been the basis of Burnley’s success, which finds them in seventh, level on points with Liverpool and Arsenal. While the back four have been unchanged throughout, Pope has been an unlikely component.
Burnley’s form is testament to Sean Dyche’s savvy marshalling of meagre resources. They have used 17 players in the league this season and, if everything had gone to plan, Pope wouldn’t have been one of them. His emergence has been one of many welcome surprises for Clarets supporters. Having never played there before, he’s looked at home at the top level.
By most measures – expected goals conceded compared to actual goals conceded, and percentage of shots saved – Pope is the best performing goalkeeper in the Premier League at the moment. A gangly and slightly awkward figure with little experience, many feared the worst when Heaton was ruled out for several months. At this rate he will be in for a tough battle to regain his place.
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