SEAN Dyche insists the Clarets’ renowned ‘never-say-die’ attitude is something he believed in as a player and was determined to take into his coaching career.

Dyche was a no-nonsense centre-back who played 520 career games in a career that took in Nottingham Forest, Chesterfield, Bristol City, Luton Town, Millwall, Watford and Northampton.

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As a manager his Burnley side have made a name for themselves with their unyielding spirit and resolve, something that has once again been to the fore this season.

It was on display with the injury-time equalisers against promotion rivals Brighton and Middlesbrough this month, two results which mean the Clarets head into this weekend on top of the Championship when they could have been four points back and preparing themselves for a play-off campaign.

Dyche has put plenty of faith in getting the culture right at Turf Moor since he walked through the door in October 2012, and it has paid dividends, first with the promotion in 2013/14 and now with a second ascension to the top flight just two wins away.

And the 44-year-old, who will take charge of his 174th Burnley game against Queens Park Rangers on Monday and is now the longest-serving Clarets boss since Stan Ternent, said it was something he had believed in as a player.

“It’s been part of the culture since I got my first group together here,” he said of Burnley’s approach.

“It’s something I believed in as a player. I wasn’t the most gifted but I’d give you everything until the end because you never know what can happen in football.

“It’s important you focus on every minute and we do that very well.

“We’re not looking to switch it on now; it’s there.”

Burnley are locked together with Middlesbrough and Brighton on 87 points at the top of the Championship and of the quality of the division this term, Dyche added: “It’s shown the depth and unpredictability of the league, then towards the end the power of teams to maintain standards.

“It’s a good league and a very challenging one. Loads of managers say the same. There’s no easy games.

“If you don’t perform and prepare you can get hurt.”