Burnley boss Nicky Hayen on West Brom test, encouraging start and Ahmedhodzic
Zian Flemming bagged a brace late on as the Clarets fought back to earn a deserved point at Turf Moor.
Now, the first away trip of the season takes Hayen’s side to the Hawthorns to face opponents who won at Norwich City on the opening day.
“It’s good for the mindset, but it shows also that you have to deliver these performances every single week or even midweek,” he told The Lancashire Telegraph.
“Playing five or 10 per cent less will not give you the same performance like we had in the second half against West Ham, and this is something that we are working really hard on every day.
“Sometimes you see in the training sessions that it’s like an average level, and this is not something we can accept.
“We always want to push for the highest level possible, even in training sessions, and they pick it up quite well.
“Of course, you have moments – and it’s normal, it’s human – that you have a bad day or whatever. This is something we can accept.
“But we want to see players who are pushing themselves and other players to have a higher level on the pitch.”
Hayen spoke ahead of that game about the importance of building a connection with the supporters after a tough campaign in the Premier League, and Turf Moor was rocking as Burnley had the Irons on the ropes.
“It’s really nice to see, and that’s why we also put a lot of effort into spending the time with the fans,” he continued.
“We really want to have that connection, and we felt that connection and everyone felt it in the stadium.
“I’m also happy that now it’s our first away game. I also hope there will be a lot of fans there because we want to play every game like we did last Sunday, and we need the support.
“We really hope that they can identify themselves with us, and then it can be an amazing season because if we deliver these performances and you have such support from the fans, then it’s always nice to have that collaboration.
“Also the Bradford game, I think we have sold four thousand tickets so it’s a huge number for a cup game.
“The only thing we can do is what we promised; we go for 95 minutes full. Now in the West Brom game, but also against Bradford and even all the games after that. But let’s start with the first one on Sunday.”
New signing Anel Ahmedhodzic (Image: PA)
West Brom were battling relegation last season but stayed up under James Morrison, who initially took charge on an interim basis before being named the permanent boss.
When asked what he expects from the Baggies, Hayen replied: “A team that already starts with three points away, that plays their first home game so you know the motivation will be huge for your first home game.
“We saw the same at Turf Moor, and when you come back with three points it gives you of course a lot of energy.
“So this is something we already have to match with them, the energy that will be in the stadium, but also they’re a solid and real good team working together.
“We know it will be again a difficult game, but we only have to see to ourselves and what did we well against West Ham, what can we improve.
“Of course, we have to analyse the strengths and the weaknesses of the opponent. But first of all, we have to look to ourselves.”
Ahead of the trip to the Hawthorns, Burnley confirmed the signing of defender Anel Ahmedhodzic from Feyenoord.
The 27-year-old has plenty of Championship experience from his time at Sheffield United and can play in several roles across the backline.
“First of all, he knows the league which is really important,” the boss explained. “But Anel is also a player with a lot of quality, a lot of talent and of course the experience.
“He’s 27 so more like a senior who knows the league and can bring his experience. But also, he played abroad for Feyenoord – a team that wants to play, have the ball a lot and make the right decisions – and that’s why we want him in the team, because he can execute the things that we want to see.
“He’s quite versatile and if you play in a back four or a back five, he can manage himself there perfectly and that’s what we want. We want to be a versatile team and we want that players can play in multiple positions.”
Hayen also confirmed there have been no official bids, to his knowledge, for key man Flemming despite reported interest from the Premier League and abroad.