Match ends, Burnley 1, Bournemouth 2.
Burnley's "amazing" efforts in the Premier League this season remain undiminished despite a dramatic final-day defeat by Bournemouth, says manager Sean Dyche.
The Cherries' victory at Turf Moor took a little of the gloss off their hosts' celebration of a return to European football for the first time in 51 years.
"Your winning instinct gets knocked but I haven't forgotten what we've done," said Dyche.
"These lads have been fantastic with what they've given as a collective this season and with what European competition means for this area."
Burnley finished the season seventh - their best position in the top flight since coming sixth in 1974 - and will resume pre-season training five days earlier than normal in readiness for their entrance into the Europa League qualifying rounds on 26 July.
They looked capable of ending the season on a high when Ashley Westwood's shot took a huge deflection off team-mate Chris Wood to deliver the opening goal.
However, the Cherries - who end the season in 12th - showcased their powers of recovery to level via Joshua King's sumptuous curling effort in the second period.
Callum Wilson scored a late winner after Jermain Defoe capitalised on a Kevin Long mistake, meaning Bournemouth conclude their campaign having amassed 21 points from losing positions, the most in the Premier League.
"Next year we'd like to take the lead more but the attitude of our players today to come back is really pleasing," said manager Eddie Howe.
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- The Premier League table - from August to May
Is Lewis Cook on the plane to Russia?
One notable absentee from the Bournemouth line-up at kick-off was England midfielder Lewis Cook.
The 21-year-old has been involved in Gareth Southgate's past two squads in the build-up to this summer's World Cup in Russia, and made his debut against Italy in March.
Yet with safety assured, Howe said he had decided to omit Cook with an England call-up in mind.
"He's had a lot of games, a lot of exposure, a lot of pressure placed upon him," Howe said.
"We just wanted him to be free of that for a little bit longer so we sent him away, he's abroad, to try and make sure he doesn't suffer from burnout maybe next season."
Dyche the manager of the year?
Since Burnley last ventured into Europe in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1966-67, they have travelled down and back up the English professional pyramid, almost going out of business in the 1980s.
However, even the most optimistic of supporters could not have imagined the way their season would unfold after a 16th-place finish last term.
With one of the lowest wage bills in the division, Burnley's success has been constructed on a diet of hard work, determination and skill, fostered by Dyche, who joined the club five and a half years ago when they were mid-table in the Championship.
With the departure of Arsene Wenger from Arsenal, Dyche becomes the second longest-serving manager in the Premier League behind Howe.
Burnley's achievements this season promote the virtues of longevity and perhaps place Dyche in the frame for the manager of the year award when it is announced next week.
"I've been on the list a couple of times in the past but I haven't won one. That would be nice," he said.
Bournemouth's powers of recovery
Bournemouth's campaign has been characterised by their ability to recover from a losing position.
They ended their season with the same scoreline as when their string of comebacks began against Brighton at the Vitality Stadium in September.
At Burnley, the turnaround was largely due to the contribution of substitutes Dan Gosling, Wilson and Defoe.
The presence of Wilson and Defoe in particular unnerved a Burnley defence that had, until their introduction, been unperturbed apart from when Aaron Lennon appeared to trip King in the penalty area.
"They are three quality players, the substitutes. I couldn't have picked a better three to come on," Howe said.
"They came on and helped the momentum to shift back our way like we've done with our substitutes at other times this season."
With Wilson and Defoe on, the game opened up, allowing the space for King to restore parity.
Wilson's winner - his first goal in 12 matches, created by Defoe's persistence and unselfishness - was ample reward for Howe's boldness and the spirit in the camp.
Man of the match - Joshua King (Bournemouth)
First victory at Burnley - the stats
- Burnley have won the lowest percentage of their Premier League points in home games this season (48% - 26 out of 54). Last season, they won a league-high 82.5% of their Premier League points at home (33/40).
- The Cherries enjoyed their first victory in 15 visits to Burnley in all competitions (D6 L8).
- Wood has netted six goals in his past nine Premier League games, after scoring only four in his first 15.
- Wood is only the third Burnley player to score 10 or more goals in a Premier League campaign, after Danny Ings (11 in 2014-15) and Sam Vokes (10 in 2016).
- King netted his 30th Premier League goal for Bournemouth, 11 more than any other player for the Cherries.
- King has scored in three successive Premier League games against Burnley; against no other side has he scored in more consecutive games (also three against Swansea).
Line-ups
Burnley
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 29Pope
- 2Lowton
- 28Long
- 5Tarkowski
- 23Ward
- 25LennonSubstituted forMcNeilat 90+4'minutes
- 4Cork
- 18Westwood
- 17Berg GudmundssonSubstituted forWellsat 80'minutes
- 13Hendrick
- 11WoodSubstituted forVokesat 61'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Heaton
- 3Taylor
- 7Nkoudou
- 9Vokes
- 21Wells
- 26Bardsley
- 31McNeil
Bournemouth
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 27Begovic
- 3S Cook
- 5Aké
- 26MingsSubstituted forDefoeat 66'minutes
- 24Fraser
- 22HyndmanSubstituted forGoslingat 59'minutes
- 6Surman
- 11Daniels
- 33Ibe
- 31MoussetSubstituted forWilsonat 59'minutes
- 17King
Substitutes
- 1Boruc
- 4Gosling
- 7Pugh
- 13Wilson
- 14B Smith
- 18Defoe
- 58Taylor
- Referee:
- Paul Tierney
- Attendance:
- 20,720
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home51%
- Away49%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away16
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away5
- Corners
- Home7
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Burnley 1, Bournemouth 2.
Substitution
Substitution, Burnley. Dwight McNeil replaces Aaron Lennon.
Goal!
Goal! Burnley 1, Bournemouth 2. Callum Wilson (Bournemouth) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jermain Defoe.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jeff Hendrick (Burnley) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Sam Vokes.
Post update
Attempt missed. Nahki Wells (Burnley) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right following a fast break.
Post update
Attempt missed. Callum Wilson (Bournemouth) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Charlie Daniels.
Post update
Foul by Dan Gosling (Bournemouth).
Post update
Jack Cork (Burnley) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Kevin Long.
Post update
Ryan Fraser (Bournemouth) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Jeff Hendrick (Burnley).
Post update
Attempt missed. Jordon Ibe (Bournemouth) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Ryan Fraser.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution
Substitution, Burnley. Nahki Wells replaces Johann Berg Gudmundsson.
Post update
Delay in match Steve Cook (Bournemouth) because of an injury.
Post update
Offside, Bournemouth. Ryan Fraser tries a through ball, but Dan Gosling is caught offside.
Post update
Dan Gosling (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Ashley Westwood (Burnley).
Goal!
Goal! Burnley 1, Bournemouth 1. Joshua King (Bournemouth) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Charlie Daniels.
Comments
Join the conversation
Whatever the league, whatever the standard, the aim is to do best you can with what you have at your disposal.
Nobody forces anyone to watch the EPL. Just watch what you like. No need to come on here to slag Burnley off or any other team.
Little Bournemouth have had great season.
Two, well managed teams without a manager who struggles to speak English!
Whatever is the matter Jay, did your Mum burn your pizza?
Burnley came 7th because they scored more points than 13 other teams. As for the Premiership being weak the team that came 4th is in the final of the Champions League.
Now stop upsetting yourself.
Keep it up!
From a West Ham fan.
Up the Hammers!
Anyway - well done AFCB and Burnley - congratulations on another inspiring and successful season which gives all of us real football fans of smaller and less fashionable clubs something to admire in the billionnaire's soul-less circus which is the EPL.
Neil Harris-Championship Manager of the Season -3rd lowest budget, top 8
Why do you bother, what is the point of you?
Both Burnley and Bournemouth have punched above their weight this season and have two great Managers in Sean Dyche and Eddie Howe.
Sean Dyche deserve manager of the season for the outstanding team he has built with very limited resources.. His player are disciplined and play as a team.
Congratulations to Burnley, full deserved European adventure next season, I hope it does not affect your league form too much