Derby clash is not a 'must win' game, insists Burnley boss Sean Dyche
Friday 22 January 2016 21:33, UK
Burnley boss Sean Dyche does not think Monday's Championship match against Derby should be singled out as a 'must win' game and has stated every match is of paramount importance.
The two sides are currently separated by just one point, with the Rams just ahead of their promotion rivals in third and the Clarets occupying fourth place.
But Dyche's side certainly take the better form into their game this week - which is live on Sky Sports 1 HD - having won four of their last six and scoring 16 times in the process.
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However, ever the straight talker, the Burnley boss doesn't see the game at Turf Moor as a vital 'must-win' for his side and stated his team need to be aiming for victory in every match.
"I think the reality of the Championship, and this is the same for any division, is while the media would make the games into 'must-wins', I don't see it like that," Dyche told the FL72 Podcast.
"The fact is you need to win enough games over the season so every game is a must win. We've seen recent results for teams where there have been real surprises, like when Middlesbrough went down to Bristol City last weekend.
"My point is that those three points against Bristol City are just as important as any three points for Middlesbrough this season. That's how I look at it and I can only presume that it's how most managers look at it. Every game is a big game and every game is a must-win game."
Derby will arrive at Turf Moor having failed to win any of their last four league games - drawing two and losing two - but Dyche doesn't believe the contrasting forms of either side will have any effect on Monday's game.
"We've certainly had some nice results. Like any manager, you don't take the success of the last few into the next few as a guarantee, but we do think the last few performances have been good.
"We had a little run where we had a few bumps in the road but that can happen in the Championship and we've come through that to put in some strong performances and get some very good results.
"You can define Derby's recent form from the outside looking in, but I would suggest that what has happened in the past won't happen in the future.
"We've got to make sure we're ready to deliver performances and we've made a good marker of that with our mentality in the group and that's showing in the results we've had recently so we look to continue in that vein."
Jason Shackell will also make his first trip back to Turf Moor after moving to Derby in the summer, but the Clarets boss insists there won't be any hard feelings towards his former charge.
"He won't get any stick from me. I'm a realist, I know the market we're in and I know these players think about their careers and what they have to do to think about their careers.
"He knows what I think about him as a player, he was my captain. Things change in football, that's just the reality of it. I'm not one to worry too much about it, I respect every player that I've had and will have in the future.
"He was excellent for me, Individually he was good, with the group and with his performances and now he's on the opposition, we wish him well beyond playing us obviously."
Following Monday's game, Burnley are back in FA Cup action where they will make the trip to the Emirates to face current holders Arsenal in the fourth round.
But with promotion back to the Premier League in their sights, Dyche is more concerned with the Championship than an extended cup run.
"You've got to focus on the bigger picture and obviously the league is always the priority, of course. The FA Cup against Arsenal, which is a great one for the fans of course and the grandeur of the cup, but the league is always the key thing in any division.
"I think any manager of any team would focus on that. It's fair to say there are things against that, if you're middling in any league then you might look at a cup run but in our case, the league is still the No 1 priority."
