BELLAMY APPLAUDS ‘INCREDIBLE’ 10 MEN CLARETS

Assistant boss praises well fought performance at Stamford Bridge

Clarets assistant manager Craig Bellamy, who stepped into media duties after Vincent Kompany was shown a red card this afternoon, hailed Burnley’s ‘selfless & incredible’ display against Chelsea and described his pride of the performance.

The Clarets battled for a well earned point in London after being reduced to 10 men in the first half and going into the break 1-0 down to a resulting Cole Palmer penalty.

Despite trailing, the visitors struck instantly in the second 45 to draw things level through Josh Cullen’s terrific strike before Palmer put the hosts back in front with just over 10 minutes play.

Dara O’Shea then powered home a glancing header five minutes to ensure the Clarets left the capital with a point and Bellamy had nothing but praise for the away side.

‘It was incredible, incredible. How selfless they were able to play for each other, how demanding of each other they were.

“To be able to show the patience they showed, working together, the organisation, the commitment, you couldn’t be nothing short of proud watching it.

“I know Chelsea haven’t quite got the points they would have liked this season, but they’re an outstanding team with outstanding footballers.” Said Bellamy.

Bellamy added that Kompany’s post-match feelings were similar to those of his own.

“The manager is more defensively-minded than myself because of where I played, but he really enjoyed that. He’s really proud of it as well.”

On the game itself, which the Clarets could have certainly gone on to win, the Welshman said: “I felt we were in the game 11-vs-11. Every time we had the ball we felt we were able to do something.

“Maybe the final pass at times we would have liked to have been better, but every time we were in possession we were able to progress up the pitch and get in Chelsea’s penalty area.

“It was more just the final ball that could have been better at times but we felt we were able to do something here.

“Now out of possession, Chelsea went to a diamond so they were able to cause us a lot of problems. We tried to get a handle on that but if you watch the game back, especially in the first-half, it was end to end quite a lot. A lot of chances.

“Second-half, due to the circumstances of us having 10 men, we had to be a little bit deeper, solid with two banks of four and then look to counter and take our opportunities when we were able to get them.”