Sam Allardyce: West Ham needed a 'bit of luck' to beat Burnley

 

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Off for an early shower: Michael Duff was sent off in a questionable decision
Joel Watson2 May 2015

Sam Allardyce has admitted that his side were lucky to be facing 10 men at Burnley after Michael Duff's questionable sending off.

West Ham won the match courtesy of Mark Noble's solitary goal, a strike that came from the resulting penalty following Duff's red card.

He told BBC sport: "I think we had a bit of luck on the sending off [Michael Duff's dismissal for the penalty].

"It should have been a lot easier and it would have been had we converted our chances. We had the chances to win two games and couldn't get that comfort zone. One slip can prove costly, but thankfully the lads did the job.

"Mark Noble never practices penalties. He says, 'don't worry I'll be fine gaffer'. The thing today was about winning and we've done that."

Burnley boss Sean Dyche was less diplomatic about the incident. He told the BBC: "Impossible. Impossible for it to be a red card in my opinion. Referees have a tough job, but that's not a tough decision in my opinion."

"Usually you can tell by a stadium. When he [Duff] got sent off, you could tell by the sharp intake of breath amongst the stadium that they were surprised."

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