KOMPANY REFLECTS ON NEWCASTLE DEFEAT

Clarets boss discusses Saturday’s loss to Magpies

Manager Vincent Kompany praised his side for ‘not giving up’ as the Clarets fell to a 4-1 defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon but admits Burnley fell short to the ‘better team’ at Turf Moor.

The Clarets started strong and dominated the opening 20 minutes until Callum Wilson broke the deadlock for the visitors. Strikes from Sean Longstaff and Bruno Guimaraes then put the Magpies three goals to the good at the break.

Despite the disappointing 4-0 score-line after Alexander Isak’s effort, Burnley grabbed a late consolation goal through Dara O’Shea’s first Turf Moor goal and Kompany was pleased to see his men not roll over and give up on a challenging afternoon against the European chasing side.

The Burnley boss said: “Look, we came up against a better side today but there was no lack of effort from our side. We fought hard and the team gave everything, we just couldn’t match Newcastle in most areas of the pitch.

“We made a very good start to the game and it’s moments like that (opening chances) that you have to seize and take advantage of. But credit to my team, they never gave up.

“Good players find solutions and at the start of the game we played well and they (Newcastle) didn’t seem to have the solutions, but they figured out the moments and ways to expose us and then they have three goals at the break.

“I just want to highlight, we never let the game die, ok the score was done but we kept going until the end and kept fighting but fell short to the better team.”

Kompany added: “It is what it is, we just have to pick ourselves up and go again next week at Spurs. A result there, and other results going our way, and the picture changes once again.

“In the end I’m not beaten by it or defeated by it. They’re a good side with a phenomenal attacking set of players. Quality midfielders who are aggressive on the ball and just overall stronger than us today.

“Like I have said, there was no lack of effort from the team but we need to be ready now on Monday to go again for the last two games and give it our all.”