I work with awesome group of players - Kompany

Burnley ended a run of nine straight Premier League defeats at Turf Moor

Burnley’s form had brought a series of Ls before Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Sheffield United.

Seven straight losses in all competitions had left them bottom of the table – but a 5-0 thrashing of Sheffield United ended that run with a first home victory of the campaign, a week on from losing 2-1 here against West Ham in injury time.

“It feels so good,” said manager Vincent Kompany. “We were desperate to do it as well. It was good against Crystal Palace and West Ham, you don’t know when it is coming but we always believed it was coming and hopefully it’s a starting point.

“I have been sitting here a few times when I can’t fault the performance and it was really good again today but we have to turn them into results.

“I had a feeling if the referee had blown the whistle [to start the match] 45 minutes earlier, my lads would have been on the pitch raring to go. I have not seen negativity, real anger and frustration after what happened against West Ham. They couldn’t wait to get back on the pitch.”

‘A glass of red wine tonight’

Unlike opposite number Paul Heckingbottom, whose Blades future now looks increasingly uncertain, Kompany’s position was not under threat whatever the result.

Club sources have mentioned “unwavering” support for a manager who led them back into the top flight at the first attempt with 101 Championship points last season.

Defeat may well have left them rooted to the bottom but the “calm” situation around the club that the Belgian has repeatedly spoken about was evident on the pitch for the first time this season.

Kompany said: “I don’t take it for granted, the amount of pressure there was on the game to turn up and perform, it is a difficult thing to do.

“I work with an awesome group of players, all I am doing as a coach is hoping every weekend they can translate their hard work into results. Today is one of those days.”

After making a rapid start through Jay Rodriguez’s goal on 15 seconds, the hosts took control of the contest with a cold execution of their pitiful opponents.

Oli McBurnie’s inexplicable red card in the first half, awarded by referee Chris Kavanagh for two separate elbows into the face of Dara O’Shea, gave Burnley a further boost at 2-0 up and they added three more in the second period.

Burnley’s playing style is possession-based, starting from the back with England Under-21 goalkeeper goalkeeper James Trafford, whose array of passing is similar to that of a midfield playmaker, managing his first clean sheet of the campaign.

Victory ended a run of nine consecutive Premier League home defeats for Burnley, who are the last of the 92 clubs in England’s top four tiers to win a home league match this season.

Kompany added: “This league is unforgiving. It is tough to keep clean sheets. This is the first one. It is good for the keeper, the defenders – and goals are good for the strikers.

“There’ll be a glass of red wine tonight and then back on to Wolves for Tuesday. Three days to enjoy it and we go again. Overall, it’s a good night for us.”

• Our coverage of Burnley is bigger and better than ever before – here’s everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment
• Everything Burnley – go straight to all the best content