Mike Jackson backs Burnley 'spirit' to ensure final-day Premier League survival
- Planet Sport writer
- 20 May 2022
Burnley kept their Premier League fate in their own hands going into the final day survival showdown.
Mike Jackson backed his Burnley side to complete the job of Premier League survival after taking a potentially crucial point at Aston Villa.
Burnley led early on at Villa Park, but Emi Buendia's equaliser after the break pegged them back. In the end, the Clarets were indebted to goalkeeper Nick Pope for preserving their point.
However, the 1-1 draw is enough to edge them above Leeds on goal difference ahead of the final day of the season.
That means Burnley simply have to match or better Leeds' result on the final day to secure another season of Premier League football.
"I never looked at it as helpless," Jackson explained after the game. "I looked at it as we needed to get something from this game. You can't hide away from it.
"For what the group went through tonight, the spirit and fight they put into it, was amazing. The game wasn't a silky football match but we knew what we needed to do.
"It was the least we wanted to come away with, so we're pleased with that.
"Nick was amazing. He has been doing that continuously, look at his quality and the way he has been progressing. He is in great form."
On the final day, Burnley host Newcastle while Leeds travel to Brentford.
Steven Gerrard, meanwhile, thought his team were 'miles' better than Burnley on the night and he was frustrated that Ashley Barnes didn't receive a red card early on for a challenge on Tyrone Mings.
"We're lucky to have him and we're glad we've got him" 🤩
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 19, 2022
Mike Jackson has praised the quality of Nick Pope after the 'keeper put on a stellar performance in Burnley's vital 1-1 draw against Aston Villa 👇 pic.twitter.com/x3i6fbbEG3
However, he says he ultimately cannot have any complaints about Villa's position in general, although he doesn't think it's good enough either.
"We should have been playing against 10 men from a very early stage," Gerrard said. "It's a clear red card.
"The PGMOL said there wasn't enough force for it to be a red card. I heard it and I was 60 yards away. Have you got to break someone's cheek or make someone go off the pitch for it to be a red card?
"We lacked that little bit of quality to score, in general play we were miles better than the opposition. We made an individual error to make a challenging task a lot more complicated for ourselves.
"The league doesn't lie over 37 games, it won't lie after 38 and 14th isn't good enough for this club and we need to address that."
