Burnley manager Sean Dyche has insisted that Ashley Barnes is coping well with the furore surrounding him following last weekend's controversial tackle on Chelsea's Nemanja Matic.
The 25-year-old escaped retrospective action from the Football Association this week after referee Martin Atkinson opted against brandishing a yellow or red card following the incident.
During the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, Matic was sent off for reacting angrily to a dangerous tackle from Barnes, but the Chelsea player has since had his three-match ban reduced to two.
"He's been good," Dyche told reporters in today's press conference. "It's not the ideal situation. We know how things get blown up very quickly at this level and particularly when powerful people in the game give big opinions on situations, the media run with it.
"It's an interesting part of his learning curve. It's not something that's come his way before, I'm pretty sure of that, but he's a steady lad, he's been doing tremendously for us. The lads obviously are all round that situation, as are the staff, so onwards and upwards for him."
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho described Barnes's tackle as "criminal" following the incident.
Danielle Joynson
