CULLEN REFLECTS ON ‘KEY MOMENTS’ IN EVERTON CLASH

Skipper discusses narrow defeat on Merseyside

Captain Josh Cullen admits that Saturday’s 1-0 loss to the Toffees came down to ‘key moments’ costing the Clarets in a close encounter at Goodison Park.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s first half stoppage time goal proved to be the difference, after blocking Arijanet Muric’s pass to give the hosts the lead on the stroke of half time before the Clarets’ afternoon was made even more difficult with 20 minutes to play when Dara O’Shea was dismissed for a challenge on Dwight McNeil.

Speaking post-match, Cullen reflected on the performance against the Blues but insists himself & the team can’t be too down and must pick themselves up instantly to go again next weekend at Turf Moor.

The 28-year-old midfielder said: “I think we started quite well, on the front foot, kept the crowd quiet and started to impose ourselves on the game. If you look at the game as whole, we probably dominated it.

“Key moments just didn’t go in our favour today and in the end it just came down to key moments that cost us today. We’re bitterly disappointed in there.

“We have to pick ourselves up and go again now though, we can’t be too down and out about it. We need to keep a positive mindset, there will be disappointment over the weekend but the minute we are back in on Monday we need to be ready to go again.”

On the goal that the Clarets conceded, Cullen explained: “We’re one team, we ask Aro (Muric) to play that way and he’s been unbelievable since he has come back into the side and he’s saved us many goals more than one that might have cost us today

“He has courage & bravery and unfortunately one hasn’t gone his way today, but we will never single anyone out and the lads are all fully behind him. It’s the game as a whole and we could have done better in all areas of the pitch.”

Burnley were reduced to ten men with just over 20 minutes left to play at Goodison Park as O’Shea challenged McNeil just past the halfway line as the hosts looked to break forward.

When asked about his view on the decision, Cullen said: “I haven’t seen it back yet to be honest, but it’s really hard to judge in real time on the pitch when it’s happening.

“It seemed like he was a long way from goal and we had defenders breaking their necks to get back in and defend, so I haven’t seen it back yet but that’s my initial feeling on it.”