Clarets making progress – Dyche

Burnley travel to face Derby County – and former skipper Jason Shackell – on Monday night in front of the Sky cameras on the back of four successive wins.

Indeed, the start mirrors that of the promotion season two years ago, with four wins, two draws and a defeat.

Burnley reached the top three in September 2013 and stayed there throughout the campaign, finished as runners-up to Leicester City with a record points tally for second place in the second tier, with 93.

Dyche feels his side could and should be even better off as well, pointing to a number of decisions which went against the Clarets in their first home game, a 2-2 draw with Birmingham City.

Burnley failed to win in their opening three league games, but Dyche said: “It’s a strange situation.

“I’m still thirsty for the fact that we had two points taken away against Birmingham when a sending off should have occurred, so you add them on and it’s a fantastic start.

“People were questioning us after three games, that’s the way it is.

“We’re not the finished article but we are growing, there’s no two ways about it.

“We’re improving again.”

One game at a time remains the mantra at Burnley, and that means the Rams – a test Dyche eagerly anticipates: “Another good game. They’re the games we all want.

“Every game that comes our way.

“It’s a tough division and you’ve got to beat everyone that’s put in front of you, no matter where they are in the table.

“MK Dons came here thinking ‘what’s the worst that can happen’? We had it ourselves last season.

“But there were a lot of good signs again, and the resilience and strength and character of the team were there when needed.

“They’re all the things that you need to be successful in football.”

Dyche’s hand is strengthening all the time in terms of squad strength, with Matt Lowton back in the matchday 18, and Joey Barton having played two development squad games.

Kevin Long and Dean Marney continue their return from cruciate knee injuries, and Fredrik Ulvestad is nearing fitness after a twisted ankle.

Dyche said: “Joey’s come through another game, Vokesy’s getting sharper and it was a great finish, Rouwen’s getting used to it, (Chris) Longy is green to it all but he’s learning about the game and the pace of it.

“There are good signs beyond results, but the results are vital of course.”

And he is excited by record signing Andre Gray’s impact, with a goal and two assists in his first three outings: “It’s pleasing to see. Andre could have had three, four, five (against MK Dons) and that’s fantastic.

“I like my strikers to be in there to miss, because if you’re in there to miss they’re going to go in at some point, and he was in there a lot.

“There’s a strength to him, there’s a character.

“Some of his runs were absolutely fantastic.

“The ball to get the cross in for Boydy for example, he sets off early, Scotty sees him, he plays in behind and he puts the turbo on.

“Once he’s in behind it puts over a fantastic cross, a nice bit of clarity, and a fantastic finish.

“I think he knows the role and responsibility of a team player, and he’ll certainly understand that here as he grows into what we are about.

“There were great signs from him again, his running and his will and desire.”