There’s no pressure on team – Dyche

Clarets boss Sean Dyche insists there is no pressure on Burnley as they go into a 10-game relegation dogfight.
Sean Dyche and Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers watch from the sidelines at AnfieldSean Dyche and Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers watch from the sidelines at Anfield
Sean Dyche and Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers watch from the sidelines at Anfield

His side lie 19th in the Premier League table, three points - and a four-goal swing - behind Aston Villa in 17th.

But Dyche feels some clubs would be harder hit by the drop than debt-free Burnley, with several well in the red after years trying to compete at this level.

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After Wednesday night’s 2-0 defeat at Liverpool, he said: “We put pressure on ourselves, but you look at some of the clubs with massive debts, situations off the pitch, let alone on it, massive demand and expectations from the fans...

Sean Dyche and Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers watch from the sidelines at AnfieldSean Dyche and Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers watch from the sidelines at Anfield
Sean Dyche and Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers watch from the sidelines at Anfield

“We want to be in the Premier League, but I think we’re different to the ones spending £30/40/50m that desperately need to be in it, because it affects the whole club, not just the team.”

Burnley failed to win any of their first 10 league games, and he is relatively pleased to still be in touch with 10 games to play: “I would have taken it certainly after 10 games, it’s a hard one for me to be too disappointed because the journey has come so far since game 10 when we had four points and hadn’t won a game.

“We’ve moved on so far that there has to be a balance. It’s a funny league, everyone talks about runs of wins and games, but it means nothing, it’s the end, that’s what counts.

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“Teams have stayed up with a few wins, loads of draws, etc, it’s getting to the end and being in the Premier League, that’s the challenge, runs of wins, losses are irrelevant, it’s getting to the end and being in the Premier League.”

Looking sharp: Ross Wallace holds off Liverpool's Raheem SterlingLooking sharp: Ross Wallace holds off Liverpool's Raheem Sterling
Looking sharp: Ross Wallace holds off Liverpool's Raheem Sterling

And as the fight for survival becomes more desperate, he believes the battling nature of his side will come to the fore.

He added: “We keep developing and learning, we’ll debrief the game, and what we’re learning from the Premier League, the feel of it, put it all back together and be ready to go again.

“We are relentless all the way down the line. Everyone knows it’s a tough run of games, we do as well, and there’s a reality to the challenge, but they’re not all deemed as tough.

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“Perception changes down the season, when we get further into this run, it starts being more nitty gritty and more rough and tumble, where teams are fighting, and that bodes well for us, because we’re good at that.”

Burnley are next in action a week tomorrow at home to champions Manchester City, and he expects nine-goal top-scorer Danny Ings to be fine after looking to suffer with cramp before being taken off in the last minute at Anfield: “I think he’s alright.”

Substitutes Ross Wallace and Sam Vokes pushed their claims for a start, and he admitted: “I thought Ross did ever so well, and he’s been waiting for his chance. He got a look at it again, and Vokesy is getting sharper, you can tell that, his eye is getting back in.

“We want them ready and they’re showing good signs.”