Clarets boss Dyche – ‘We have no fear’

NO FEAR: Sean Dyche is just focussed on his side doing what they do best

Regardless of reputations, size of budgets and squad depth, the Clarets have gone about their business all season long trying to stick to their beliefs.

And with 14 games remaining, they lie two points clear of Saturday’s visitors Derby County in second place, after a 3-1 demolition of promotion rivals Nottingham Forest at Turf Moor.

Of the teams in the top half of the table currently, only eight place Brighton have beaten the Clarets so far this season, and, while hurting Forest was important, Dyche said: “Factually it’s three points whichever way you look at it, whether you’re playing top middle or bottom.

“It’s fair to say it has a bit more feel to it because the expectation is so big at Forest.

“They hadn’t lost in 14.

“They have a very high quality squad of players. We value what we’re doing here and we value the players we’ve got. But we’re not afraid of anyone, we look to play our way whoever we play.”

Burnley have put down a number of markers so far this season, and the win over Forest is another that will make the division sit up and take notice: “If you look back QPR was one, Reading was one, Bolton was another because we hadn’t won there in 30 years. There are so many good markers about what we’re trying to achieve here. In my world it’s just another good three points.

“We’re going about our business in the right manner.

“When I came here one of my biggest mantra to the Burnley fans was seeing a team who will give everything to win and never stop doing so.

“When we play with the quality we did on Saturday, which we’ve done on many occasions this season - that nice mix of that belief system, the energy, that good shape to the team but also the quality, and I thought the quality was outstanding again.”

Dyche also has the strongest squad he has had at his disposal all season at the business end, and he remains eager to add to it: “We’ve still got open lines of communication with a number of parties. Some have to wait until a gap opens up, but if there are some that we think can give us strength in depth and we’ll utilise that as we see fit.”

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