Dyche: It's Not Make Or Break

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Boss focused on Palace visit as Clarets aim to mind the gap

2021-02-11T17:40:05.974Z

Dyche: It's Not Make Or Break

Boss focused on Palace visit as Clarets aim to mind the gap

2021-02-11T17:40:05.974Z

Sean Dyche insists it’s not a ‘make-or-break’ run as the Clarets launch a burst of three big games in eight days at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The trip to Palace is followed by home fixtures against bottom-three sides Fulham and West Bromwich Albion.

The Clarets are currently eight points clear of the relegation zone and six points behind 13th-placed Palace, having played a game fewer.

But with 16 games still to go, Dyche isn’t looking further ahead than the trip to Selhurst Park.

“It’s more about points on the board than worrying about where Palace are and where we are,” said the Burnley boss.

Sean Dyche became the Clarets’ 24th post-war managerial appointment when he took charge at Turf Moor at the end of October, 2012.

“All games are important. Of course, statistically you have a better chance against certain teams.

“But it doesn’t make them make or break, it just makes them better statistical chances of getting results - from our history of being in the Premier League.

“They’re still good sides. Everyone’s fighting, everyone’s alive. Sheffield United have certainly shown a strong sign of that lately.

“They are important games, for different reasons, but you can argue that with all games.

“Recently, we went through a run of games where people probably didn’t think we were going to get anything and we came away with six points from four very tough games.”

Those wins over Liverpool and Aston Villa extended Burnley’s advantage over the bottom three with another point gained from a 1-1 draw against in-form Brighton last weekend maintaining the gap.

“I think that’s a healthy return,” Dyche added. “We’ve got to keep to that form and we’ve got to keep winning games.

“I thought we were very good against Brighton and arguably certainly deserved to get more than just a point in that game.

“But the doesn’t guarantee the next one. The importance and focus is on the next game, rather than the next three. It’s just on the next one, which is Palace.”

Midfielder Jack Cork looks set to be fit for a return to Palace, where a fractured foot sustained in a 1-0 win last June sidelined him for six months, while goalkeeper Nick Pope also trained on Thursday after the pair both missed the mid-week FA Cup defeat to Bournemouth.

Josh Brownhill – who announced himself on the Premier League stage with an impressive performance in that victory in South London – could also be back in the squad after missing four games with a foot injury.

But Charlie Taylor and Robbie Brady will be both be assessed to see if they are ready to return, while striker Chris Wood remains a doubt as he continues his recovery from a hamstring strain.