Growth of Clarets’ squad is encouraging sign for Dyche

It took the Clarets until the fourth month of the season to register their first victory but – buoyed by that early November success over Hull City – they have taken eight points from the last 12 available and are only in the Premier League’s bottom three on goal difference.

A win at Loftus Road tomorrow afternoon would definitely elevate them out of that lowly trio as Hull face West Brom, and 
Dyche insists the recent mini purple patch which Burnley are enjoying is a reflection of their ability to kick on.

“Most of my messages have been pretty much the same,” he said. “Early season a lot was made of us not winning, but I thought our performances were good. I said ‘you’ve got to go even harder than just giving good performances at this level’ and I think we’ve done that.

“We’ve certainly deserved the points we’ve got; we arguably should have nicked all three against (Aston) Villa in terms of the chances we created and Newcastle are a good side so we can’t be too greedy.

“The mentality is good; it’s growing from the fact they’re not just winning and getting points on the board, but from playing in the Premier League. That growth is quite apparent at the moment. There’s a lot of games to come.”

Burnley and QPR are familiar foes having played each in their respective promotion campaigns in the Championship last season and it is those two, along with fellow newcomers Leicester, who occupy the three lowest rungs on the Premier League ladder.

Dyche believes that epitomises the quality of the division they all entered back in August.

He added: “It just goes to show you how tough the league is, but it’s when you get down to the end that it really counts.”