Burnley boss looking for response

Keeping his cool: Clarets boss Sean Dyche reaches for some refreshment at Huddersfield Town on Saturday

Ahead of tonight’s visit of his former club Watford (kick-off 7-45 p.m.), Burnley were knocked off the top of the Championship after two months following their first league defeat in 13 games - a 2-1 setback at Huddersfield Town.

That came on the back of three successive draws, and a failure to make any additions before the loan window closed on Thursday.

It has led to accusations that Burnley’s small squad, and the high-tempo pressing game they employ, has left it’s mark, but Dyche is adamant that is not the case: “We’re full of energy the way we play.

“Teams are having to go above their norm. We get the stats so we know what other teams are doing, and they’re having to go above their norm to try to win games.

“You saw our physical prowess towards the end of the game at Huddersfield, we were still going hard and strong, trying to create chances right the way to the death, so that’s not an issue.”

Asked how you combat teams going above the norm, he added: “The first thing’s first for our team to be mentally ready and understanding of that.

“We’re up there for a reason and we’ve got to be ready for teams being at you and playing and passing and scoring goals.

“Saturday was a reminder to us how tough this division is. We know that anyway.

“We’re still right up there and we’re deserving of the position we’re in, so it’s important we re-focus on what we’re about and get ready to deliver from the first whistle, because we’re up there for a reason - because we’re a good side.

“They raised their levels, and in the second half when we started to raise ours again, we showed what a good side we are. We have to bring that second half into the next performance.

“The second half was back to where we are, back to what we can do, back to what we can achieve pretty much, but by then it was pretty difficult because the big decisions had gone against us.

“The penalty’s a real de-fueller for most teams but it almost gave us life again.

“That’s the spirit and mentality we’ve instilled.”

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