Dyche: ‘We’re not there yet’

Clarets boss Sean Dyche isn’t altering his focus as Burnley close in on a place in the Premier League.
Happy camp: Dean Marney and Ashley Barnes celebrate at full-time as Sean Dyche ponders another victoryHappy camp: Dean Marney and Ashley Barnes celebrate at full-time as Sean Dyche ponders another victory
Happy camp: Dean Marney and Ashley Barnes celebrate at full-time as Sean Dyche ponders another victory

Burnley entertain Doncaster Rovers at Turf Moor tonight, with nine games remaining, holding a 10-point advantage over Derby County and QPR as they look to seal an automatic promotion slot.

But while many believe the Clarets will not now be usurped in the top two positions, Dyche is not looking at points totals or anything like that - purely looking to win the next game.

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Dyche said: “I’ve got to be honest, on August 1st there were people suggesting we’d be nowhere near this position, but we have a belief in what we do, as a staff, and the players, and take great pride and value in what we’re doing as a group.

“So far, we’ve done well, but it is only so far.

“We’ve got another big game against Doncaster, and ones following that, but our focus has remained on the next game, nothing has knocked us off that thought process.

“We’ll be ready.”

Ahead of Thursday’s emergency loan deadline, Dyche has been linked with a move for Manchester United’s 18-year-old striker James Wilson, who, earlier this month scored a hat-trick at Wolves Under 21s, and netted a superb solo effort at Turf Moor against the Clarets in the FA Youth Cup in December.

Dyche is also hoping to have top-scorer Danny Ings and Keiran Trippier available shortly.

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Ings has missed the last two games with an ankle sprain, while a tight hamstring ruled Trippier out of Saturday’s 3-0 win at Charlton.

On Trippier, Dyche said: “It’s a minor one but with hamstrings we have to be careful, so we’ll see how the days go.

“It’s settled nicely already but we want to make sure.”

Michael Duff also came off in the last minute at The Valley, but Dyche explained: “It was a bit of cramp. With the game being dead by then it was precautionary.”

Ashley Barnes got off the mark on Saturday with a header to put the Clarets ahead, and Dyche said: “His work ethic was tremendous again, some of his hold-up play very good on a really tough surface, and he was in the right place at the right time.”