Burnley 0-0 West Brom: Sam Allardyce praises 'one of best' 10-man performances

West Brom boss Sam Allardyce says his side produced one of the best performance by 10 men he has seen as they were held to a goalless draw by Burnley.

The Baggies secured their first clean sheet since 28 November despite the first-half dismissal of Semi Ajayi.

And although the point did little to boost their hopes of avoiding relegation - they are 11 points adrift of safety - Allardyce was pleased with what he saw.

"We are showing how much we are improving," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"That was one of the best 10-man performances I have ever seen in my time.

"I have actually won a lot of games with 10 men, and this one well deserved a win with 10 men, but unfortunately we have to kick ourselves for missing golden opportunities."

Matheus Pereira was the chief culprit in that respect. The Brazilian somehow missed his kick in the middle of the six-yard line with only Nick Pope to beat after being set up by Mbaye Diagne.

In the melee that followed, Pereira failed to turn home an Ainsley Maitland-Niles cross as James Tarkowski eventually cleared.

Pereira also went close in the opening period with a low shot that was heading for the bottom corner until Pope made the save.

When it came to missed chances, Diagne was not blameless either, blasting against the bar from six yards after cutting inside Tarkowski.

Darnell Furlong and Maitland-Niles also threatened the Burnley goal but the failure to score just heightened the frustrations of a West Brom side who played the final hour a man down after Ajayi was sent off for deliberate handball.

Sean Dyche's Burnley were uninspiring going forward. Indeed, the hosts were limited to just one shot on target as West Brom comfortably kept their first clean sheet in 15 matches.

But second-bottom West Brom remain in massive trouble, while the point nudges an uninspiring Burnley outfit a bit closer to safety despite remaining in 15th spot.

"I am pleased in the end because we were absolutely miles off it," Dyche said.

"I am not going to be too critical because I'm asking a lot of the players. They looked physically and mentally jaded today.

"Over a season's work a clean sheet is a pleasing thing and it is another point on the table. We are not the real deal and we are so stretched so I accept the point."

Referee Dean back in the spotlight

Referee Mike Dean did not take charge of a Premier League game last weekend in order to remove him from the spotlight after his recent decisions to dismiss Southampton's Jan Bednarek and West Ham's Tomas Soucek - both following the intervention of VAR - were overturned.

The official must have had a sense of dread as Michael Oliver told him to take another look at Ajeyi's misdemeanour.

In truth, this decision was straightforward and Dean had no hesitation in brandishing his 111th Premier League red card. The 52-year-old has shown 44 more than any other referee in the competition's history.

He explained to Furlong and Maitland-Niles as they headed for the dressing rooms at half-time that once it was determined Ajeyi's hand moved towards the ball, it had to be a red card - even though Matej Vydra had a long way to run if he was to score.

Mike Dean has shown four red cards in the past three matches he has refereed

Under the circumstances though, it was a surprise Dean was not ushered back to the screen at the start of the second half when Albion skipper Kyle Bartley controlled a header by Conor Townsend with an outstretched arm inside his own box.

Baggies relegation fear

West Brom's struggles have continued throughout Allardyce's time in charge, with their defending a major issue.

A routine early cross from Burnley defender Matt Lowton, which picked out Jay Rodriguez unmarked between Ajeyi and Bartley, did not hint at training ground defensive work transferring to game day.

Yet, as it turned, out Burnley, lacking Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood, were largely lifeless. Josh Brownhill had a couple of efforts at goal but the Rodriguez effort was the best they had.

Burnley did not need to win though. Their task now is to keep others - including West Brom - at bay.

And just as against Manchester United last week, Allardyce will wonder how his team failed to secure maximum points.

How the Pereira tap-in failed to end up in the net was beyond comprehension. The only plausible explanation, other than a bobble, was momentary panic.

Allardyce can take solace from his team looking more like the side he wants them to be - and going two games unbeaten for only the second time this season. But West Brom need points - and for the second game running, they didn't get enough.

The Albion manager added: "It makes it more difficult because one more game has ticked by and we have not gained any points on teams near by to put them under pressure and make them think we are on our way and catching up.

"We are very, very close but unfortunately - because of our finishing today and against Manchester United - not close enough."

Sending off number 111 for Dean - the stats

• West Brom's last clean sheet before this was the 1-0 win at home to Sheffield United in November.

• Burnley have won just one of their eight Premier League meetings with West Brom (D4 L3), winning 2-1 at the Hawthorns in March 2018.

• The last two occasions West Brom have received a red card and avoided defeat in a Premier League game have both been against Burnley (also winning 1-0 in August 2017).

• Since the start of last season, Burnley have kept 24 clean sheets in the Premier League, only Manchester City (31) have more in this period.

• Mike Dean brandished the 111th red card of his Premier League career - Phil Dowd is next on the list with 67.

• West Brom defender Semi Ajayi was shown a red card for the first time in his English league career, in what was his 186th appearance (including play-offs).

What's next?

Burnley's next game is away at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, 28 February (14:00 GMT). West Brom have another game against a bottom half side, Brighton, at The Hawthorns on Saturday, 27 February (15:00 GMT).