Jeff Hendrick was the match-winner as Sean Dyche's Burnley side climbed to the lofty heights of 7th in the Premier League with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Newcastle on Monday Night Football.
The Dubliner was in the right place at the right time and his first touch did not let him down as he slammed the ball into the roof of the net after Joey Gudmundsson's cross, and from then on it was all about protecting what they had.
Burnley's superb organisation and discipline got them over the line, and without too many highlights to discuss pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville decided to highlight how Hendrick's goal was more impressive than it seemed initially.
Carragher was impressed with Hendrick's touch and focus, while Neville too was highly impressed.
Carragher: Just watch his eyes. He's got a goalkeeper going for it, a defender going for it also, it takes a slight little touch but it comes to him late. See his eyes? Doesn't take his eyes off the ball, and that's a very awkward height... You know why it's awkward...
And he just finishes it off. It was a great first touch, there's claims for handball, wasn't there, of course it's still a difficult finish [with the ball rising].
Neville: I think when people make things look easy, like he has done there Hendrick, I think you think 'oh that's what he should have done' and if he mis-controlled it I think we'd be sat here now saying 'how has he not scored?'
But to keep your composure, your eye on the ball when goalkeeper and defender are going for it, he was so focused, the touch is absolutely brilliant. it's flying across the goal, he's just cushioned it by pulling his knee back and the clever bit about the finish is sometimes the defender is diving across and you can hit him straight at him. He lifts it over him and puts it into the roof of the net, it's a real top bit of quality in that finish there.
He's a good player, him.
As for Hendrick himself, he wasn't quite as impressed with his own ability as Carragher and Neville, claiming that if he had have missed the chance he would have just walked off the pitch.
It's great to see Hendrick hitting form, he himself was critical of his performances in an Ireland jersey back in September but having scored against Everton and following it up with the winner on Monday night, it's good to see the confidence back in his game.
Same again against Denmark now please Jeff.
