A seventh game without a win left Dyche hoping the form has reached a nadir ahead of two Turf Moor games this coming week.

And he insisted his players will dig deep to regain the confidence and show the fight that has earned them widespread acclaim in recent seasons.

Dyche said: “Sometimes there’s a bottoming out period, and I am hoping we’ve got to that stage.

“It’s hard to explain because there’s no measurement, but subliminally everyone says ‘we’ve got more than that’… and we’ve got way more than that, I am sure of it!

“I’ve seen these players give so much to the cause and I’ve seen them grow, but when fear comes into football it’s a tough thing.

“It plays tricks with you, your fluidity and the distances you cover and the will and demand. The units start drifting and when things get stretched, you get a bit rigid and start playing as individuals, concentrating on doing your own job first.

“We know we have to be a team and that’s just got a bit stretched at the moment.

“It’s a good effort they’re showing, but it’s just misguided at the moment and we have to remind them of the simplicity of how they play.”

Dyche, whose below-par side suffered a fifth defeat in six games through a fortuitous first-half strike from James McArthur and a second-half stunner from Andros Townsend, added: I certainly think there’s work to be done.

“But these players have worked hard to achieve and be playing at this level. Now it’s about getting the gloves on and taking it on, and I think there’s a fight in there.

“Nobody gives you anything in football and we’ve earned this right, and you have to earn it again when people are knocking you.

“That’s the biggest time to get those gloves on and say, ‘bring it on’.

“We are in that strange position where the eye of the tiger has gone a little. Last year everyone was on it, all of the time, and we showed no fear.

“We looked people in the eye and said, ‘you had better be ready, because we are’ and that gives you a chance with everything, particularly when you have that underdog feel.

“Our status has changed, which should be a good thing. The players and the club have become more recognised, because of the achievements of last season, and that brings a different demand.

“I actually enjoy that, because we’ve worked hard to be recognised. But while some individuals love that and thrive on it, others find it really tough and we are kind of in that mixed bag and it’s affecting the group tactically.

“To get that eye of the tiger back, it’s like a good boxer. He gets back in the gym, just as we have to get back on that training pitch and work hard, because changing things around all comes from a base of hard work.”

POS	Team	PL	PTS
15	FOR	5	5
16	BUR	5	4
17	BRE	5	4

POS	Team	PL	PTS
15	FOR	5	5
16	BUR	5	4
17	BRE	5	4

Time To Get The Gloves On: Dyche

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