Jackson: Dyche sacking can ‘jolt’ Burnley into avoiding relegation

Burnley caretaker boss Mike Jackson believes Sean Dyche’s sacking made it clear to the players the precarious position they find themselves in.

The Clarets are no strangers to a relegation battle, but this season feels different, with a side who have won only four league games all term showing few signs they are about to dig themselves out of this hole.

Sympathy for Utd, the 13-year-old to Liverpool’s ruthless Owen

Dyche paid the price on Good Friday as the club abruptly ended his nine-and-a-half-year reign only months after giving him a new four-year contract.

“I think that can be a trigger for a team sometimes,” Jackson said. “It gives them a jolt. They think, ‘This is where we’re at, what do we do as a group now? Do we sit and wallow or do we come together and take on that challenge?’. From what I’ve seen so far that’s what they’ve done.”

Jackson, 48, has stepped up from his role as under-23s boss to lead an interim coaching staff that also includes injured club captain Ben Mee, securing a 1-1 draw in Sunday’s match at West Ham.

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It could have been more – Maxwel Cornet missed a penalty after Wout Weghorst headed Burnley in front – but equally Jackson was grateful to Nick Pope for saving them from defeat after Tomas Soucek levelled.

Jackson said he did not know how much longer he would remain in charge – chairman Alan Pace has asked him to take charge at home to Southampton on Thursday night but nothing more has been said, with Wolves due at Turf Moor on Sunday.

Ralf Rangnick has arguably seen the interim tag undermine his authority at Manchester United but, given Burnley’s position,