Burnley interim manager Mike Jackson has insisted that avoiding the bottom of the Premier League table brought no solace, following his side's 1-1 draw with Wolves at Turf Moor. The result ensured the Clarets finished 19th, but Jackson expressed deep disappointment over the season as a whole.
Match Summary
Wolves took an early lead in the fifth minute when Adam Armstrong converted a penalty after Ladislav Krejci's header struck the arm of Florentino. It was only Armstrong's second Premier League goal since his move from Southampton in February. Wolves dominated the first half, with Mateus Mane hitting the post and goalkeeper Max Weiss making a fine save from David Moller Wolfe.
Burnley fought back after the interval, and Zian Flemming equalised in the 48th minute after exchanging passes with Lesley Ugochukwu, firing a crisp shot from 18 yards inside Jose Sa's right-hand post. The point lifted Burnley above Wolves in the table, securing an extra £2.7 million in prize money.
Jackson's Reaction
Jackson, who replaced Scott Parker for the final four matches and earned two points, stated: "It doesn't really matter that we didn't finish bottom. The disappointment of the season still sits there. But I've said to the players that they can't let setbacks define you. The club has been here before and we can do it again." He acknowledged that some players will leave and emphasised the importance of rebuilding the squad wisely.
On his own future, Jackson commented: "What's next for me? I'm going to go out into the garden and chill! But I'm sure there will be talks over the next few days first about what's going to happen." The club now faces the task of finding a permanent manager for their Championship return.
Wolves' Perspective
Wolves manager Rob Edwards, who took over when the team had just two points from 11 games and lost his first seven matches, expressed frustration. "We looked really dangerous in the first half, but we weren't able to take advantage of those chances we created to score a second goal. Allowing Burnley to come back into it, in the manner that we did, was really disappointing."
Edwards, who described the season as a "big, big challenge," stressed the need to build a team fans can be proud of. "I came in with my eyes wide open. We have given it everything. This has been a big, big challenge. We knew what we were coming into, but now we've got to start moving forward." He added: "I said to the lads that the fans want to come with us. We've now got to build a team that they can be proud to watch. We need to build a connection with them. That's going to be down to hard work."
Edwards concluded: "It's been a challenging season. But this is a club that is close to my heart and I feel passionately about being part of turning things around. I know that if we can get things right here it can be amazing."
