Goals will come - Dyche

Those results took Sean Dyche’s side into a top three berth they didn’t relinquish all campaign, culminating in promotion.

Fast forward 12 months, and the Clarets are bottom of the Premier League, with one goal from their opening six league encounters.

If they fail to score in the first 35 minutes at Leicester City tomorrow, they will equal a club record of minutes without a league goal.

However, Dyche points out that while the net is not yet bulging for his players this time around, they are doing everything but score.

He explained: “Last season, in six games we had 80 efforts at goal and 40 on target, including against Yeovil when we had 21 efforts in that one game alone.

“This year we’ve had 72 and 37 on target, which is 51.4 % against 50 %.

“So statistically I’m suggesting the team is performing in right manner on line with what we were doing last year after the first six games.

“Obviously the challenge has got harder and the quality needed in the front third of the pitch has to be better, and that’s where the challenge is for us.

“In the top third of the pitch you need a clinical pass, clever movement and a clinical finish. You need the technique to be right and the pressure - all the things that make goals and score goals.

“We’ve had more final third entries, more penalty area entries and statistically more shots on target than the first six games last year. Those are only guidelines.”

He knows that ultimately the only statistic that matters in football is goals for and against, and while Burnley have come under the microscope for a lack of goals, he admitted: “It’s the reality of the job, it’s not a bore at all, it’s a stat.

“The team is delivering (performances) that we think can win football matches. The defining moment is someone who takes that chance, that’s been the big difference.

“Last year a cross goes in and somebody puts it in the goal, simple as that.

“So far keepers, missed chances, etc etc. We have to turn the screw and make sure those chances become goals.

“We’re getting into the right areas but the hardest thing for coaches and managers is to provide that final touch into the net, as well as keeping our good framework and good shape at the other end.

“We’ve obviously tried to tweak and adjust things, both in defence and attack, but the stats are very balanced to the first six games last year.”

Dyche has continued to back his players, even in the absence of last season’s 47-goal strike partnership Danny Ings and Sam Vokes with injury: “I believe in the players we have at the club, otherwise I wouldn’t have them here.

“We were scoring goals in pre-season. Juke (Lukas Jutkiewicz) got six and we scored a decent amount of goals.

“It’s working with what we’ve got and making the best of it.

“You’re waiting for the individuals to catch fire within that system and score goals.

“There are goals in people, it’s just delivering it.”