SEAN Dyche admits that Burnley are into the territory of ‘myths, legends and folklore’ if they are to avoid relegation after expressing his bewilderment at Michael Duff’s red card in the 1-0 loss at West Ham United.

Duff was controversially sent off for a professional foul midway through the first half and Mark Noble converted the penalty to give West Ham victory.

The Clarets are now eight points adrift of safety with only three games left and will be relegated if they fail to win at Hull City next Saturday.

“It makes it a whole, whole big mountain to climb now, you’re going into myths, legends and folklore,” Dyche admitted after the game.

“Will I give up? Absolutely not, I’ve never done that in my career.

“But I’m a realist, I don’t do blind faith.”

Dyche had no complaints with referee Jonathan Moss’ decision to award a penalty against Duff for the trip on Cheikhou Kouyate but was dismayed that his central defender was shown a red card for a professional foul, even though Jason Shackell and Scott Arfield appeared to be covering.

He said: “It’s a penalty but I’m amazed it’s a sending off and whole-heartedly disappointed it’s a sending off.

“I think there were a stadium full of people who were very surprised it was a sending off.

“I can only imagine their manager was surprised it was a sending off, I don’t know.

“The staff were certainly surprised it was a sending off.

“The substitutes were surprised it was a sending off.

“I think the groundsman was surprised it was a sending off.

“I think the linesman was surprised it was a sending off.

“There was a tube station nearby where they were surprised it was a sending off, but other than that...

“I’ve seen it back and I’m amazed. It’s a massive moment in a game like this, a game that we needed to win and we started brightly, we created chances.

“The game was evening out, becoming a real game and beginning to take some shape and that changes everything.”

Dyche said he would look at the incident in detail before making a final decision over whether to appeal the red card, but indicated in another interview that there was no point in challenging the verdict.

“I won’t appeal the red card because what’s the point?” he said.