(AP Photo/PA, Anna Gowthorpe)
Stoke beat new boys Burnley 2-0
By DANIEL ROSE,
STATS European Football Writer
(AP) -- LONDON (SE) - Burnley manager Owen Coyle warned his newly-promoted players that they must grow up fast after the opening day 2-0 defeat at Stoke.
Two defensive errors were all that separated the sides in an entertaining clash at the Britannia Stadium but Coyle is already aware of the extra class in the Premier League.
Coyle said: "You cannot expect to make mistakes at this level and get away with it and that is where we went wrong today.
"The first should have been stopped in the build-up and the second was an own goal but in both cases we switched off.
"Having said all that, I felt we contributed fully to the match and I am disappointed to come away with no points.
"We committed players forward as we did in the Championship last season and created chances. I am buoyed by the fact that we showed we could compete in the Premier League.
"But we have a lot to learn about life in the top flight and we need to learn it quickly because it is an unforgiving league. There were lots of positives".
Stoke manager Tony Pulis, whose side begin their second season in the Premier League, was simply happy to win.
"This was a smashing result. You never know what is going to happen on the first day so you have to be happy when you pick up the three points.
"Burnley were on a high, just promoted and with a big following of fans. I thought they played some good stuff and they must not get despondent because there is a long, long way to go.
"We will be criticised for two set-piece goals, a free kick and a throw, but we don't care. We will take them what ever way they come."
Stoke first came in the 19th minute when a Liam Lawrence free kick was headed back across goal and inside a post by defender Ryan Shawcross. It was Stoke's first serious attack.
Stoke's second was also avoidable. A long throw from Rory Delap was headed into his own net by Burnley defender Stephen Jordan at full stretch.
Burnley never looked like snatching a point after that setback although Wade Elliott grazed the Stoke bar with a 25 yard shot soon after half time.
Steven Fletcher, Burnley's major signing at three million pounds from Hibernian, almost marked his debut with a goal but his effort in the 65th minute was tipped away at full stretch by Thomas Sorensen.
Matt Paterson also went close near the end but Dave Kitson, on as a substitute, came close to a Stoke third with a shot which struck the Burnley woodwork.
Disappointed Coyle added: "We will not compromise our methods. We will attack where and when we can but every match is going to be huge and our next is against Manchester United. They don't come any tougher."
Updated August 15, 2009
