After guiding the Clarets to an important 2-0 win against Southampton on Thursday night, Burnley FC caretaker manager Mike Jackson confesses he is unsure if he will take charge of Sunday’s Premier League match against Wolves.
Burnley moved within a point of 17th-placed Everton thanks to goals from defenders Connor Roberts and Nathan Collins in the first half, despite having played one more game, and Sunday’s match gives the Clarets a chance to climb out of the bottom three, if only for a few hours before the Toffees face Liverpool.
Since Sean Dyche’s shocking dismissal last Friday, Jackson and an interim coaching staff that includes injured captain Ben Mee have taken four points from two games, but they are continuing to work on a day-to-day basis as chairman Alan Pace searches for a permanent replacement.
“I haven’t spoken to the chairman, I’ve been chatting to you guys for the last half hour and I haven’t had the opportunity to speak to anyone,” Jackson added.
“The chairman asked us to prepare for the game today the other day, and if the chairman asks us to prepare for the game on Sunday, that’s where we’re at.”
“There isn’t going to be a meeting.” Tomorrow is a recovery day as well as a workday for those who didn’t play. We’ll play the game on Sunday if the chairman requests it again. That’s something we’ve considered. We’re really glad to be able to assist the club and the players.”
After the game, right-back Roberts, who scored his first Burnley goal in style by cutting to his justify and curling a shot past Fraser Forster with 12 minutes remaining, said the players were feeling more free under Jackson, but the club’s under-23s coach insisted he hadn’t changed much.
“When a boss quits, people always say, ‘You’ve done this and done that.'” He answered, “I don’t think it’s that.”
“I believe the players and the group have simply remembered who they are, what they’re capable of, and what they’re excellent at.” That, I believe, is all there is to it.
“We’re here to help them; the staff has all pitched in, and everyone has contributed.” I am not a believer in the magic wand. I’m not trying to invent anything new here. We have a gang of guys that have banded together to fight.”
Burnley’s strategy on Thursday was the same as the previous day, but they were energized by the crowd at Turf Moor, and Roberts’ early goal was the first of several chances, with Southampton goalkeeper Forster keeping the score down till Collins headed in a second before half-time.
Burnley’s vigour according to Jackson, “comes from confidence.” “The West Ham game instilled confidence in us” (a 1-1 draw on Sunday). You start to feel better about yourself all of a sudden. There haven’t been any significant modifications. They’ve only now rerealizedho they are.”
While Burnley rejoiced, Southampton squandered an opportunity to get back into the top half of the standings, with Ralph Hasenhuttl’s team winning only one of their last six league games.
“Congratulations to Burnley Football Club. “I think it was a well-deserved victory in the end,” the Austrian added.
“We had the game’s first huge chance, a free header to Oriol (Romeu) following a set-piece, but the game may go in a different direction after that.”
More:
Should I put more money toward a down payment or save more for retirement?
Best Buy Offers a Variety of Ways to Save Money!
This Guy Is Determined to Help Fulham Achieve Their ‘dream’ of Winning the Championship!
“You don’t deserve anything when you concede the first goal from the first chance and don’t recover until halftime.”
“We were simply not good enough in the opening 45 minutes in every way.”
