Scott Parker admitted confidence could be an issue for Burnley’s attacking players after they needed an own goal from Michal Helik to edge out Oxford 1-0 and move into the top two of the Championship.
After failing to register a shot on target in last week’s goalless draw at home to Leeds, the last of three consecutive 0-0 draws at Turf Moor and one that was followed by another stalemate at Portsmouth at the weekend, Burnley looked much more threatening with 15 efforts on goal, seven on target.
But Lyle Foster and Zian Flemming were guilty of glaring misses in a first half that Burnley ought to have ended with a comfortable advantage.
Burnley fans chanted ‘We’ve scored a goal!’ after seeing only their 37th in 31 league games this season and so, as they continue to excel defensively, that lack of cutting edge is the main threat to their hopes of an immediate return to the Premier League.
“Maybe it’s a psychological element a little bit because of the general noise around it, human nature is sometimes maybe that noise gravitates a bit and snowballs, that maybe could be the case,” Parker said.
“We missed some good chances, that’s clear. I’m more pleased we had those big chances, in the right positions, that conviction about us, not hiding, putting yourself on offer to miss that chance is key for me as a coach. We did that, and we didn’t execute.”
But Parker still called this performance a big step forward after some recent drab displays.
Their unbeaten run is now 18 games and this was a ninth straight clean sheet in the league, with the win moving them above Sheffield United into second on goal difference, having played a game more.
“There’s definitely pressure on us and there’s been pressure on us all season,” he added.
“This is an incredibly young squad, and I’ve mentioned many times some players are playing a full season in the Championship for the first time.
“Expectation is obviously huge and we’re 18 unbeaten, another clean sheet, won another football match in the Championship so it’s nothing but positive.”
Defeat brought an end to a nine-game unbeaten run that had seen Oxford climb away from trouble under new manager Gary Rowett.
But Parker’s old Charlton team-mate said he could not be too disappointed given his side have shown they can compete in this division after getting themselves away from immediate trouble at the bottom of the table.
“They had a couple of good opportunities (early on) they maybe should have scored before the goal, and the goal ends up being one of the least threatening of those,” he said.
“I was probably disappointed but I couldn’t say it hadn’t been coming. But I thought we had periods in the game and we carried a threat, and we hung on in the game.
“I thought we chased the game reasonably well, got in some good areas, put them under pressure and made it a little bit nervy without creating that one big moment where you’d say we should get something out of the game.
“I don’t necessarily think that would have been fair on Burnley’s performance, so that’s the next evolution of our performance. I think we’ve shown we can compete in this division.”
