Burnley could struggle to avoid dreaded drop

Sean Dyche was as short as 1-5 at one stage with Ladbrokes to become Crystal Palace's manager in the off-season and it is little wonder he was in the reckoning for a more high-profile job after leading Burnley to survival last season.

No-nonsense Dyche built the triumphant campaign around their Turf Moor fortress as Burnley claimed 33 of their 40-point total at home with the direct Clarets making life uncomfortable for England's elite.

Finishing 16th, six points clear of trouble, was an excellent outcome for Burnley, who would gladly take more of the same this time, but a repeat will be hard to achieve and not just because crack centre-back Michael Keane was sold to Everton.

Keane's England teammate Tom Heaton made more saves (141) than any other Premier League goalkeeper last season and no side stayed up having fewer shots than Burnley's average of 10.3.

Only West Brom had less possession than Burnley's average of 42.7 per cent and their pass success rate of 67.8 per cent was the worst in the division, not that Dyche would seem to care for those kind of statistics.

"If you want to play Barcelona football, get Barcelona players," Dyche bluntly said in an interview with the Daily Mail in March, although the signing of Swansea midfielder Jack Cork points towards a future where Burnley are potentially more prosperous in possession.

The capture of Jonathan Walters from Stoke, however, is more in keeping with a physical plan and Charlie Taylor's arrival from Leeds also suggests the Clarets remain happier shopping domestically despite Ian Butterworth's appointment as head of European recruitment.

It's an approach which has served Dyche well, even if there were some minor grumbles in the cheap seats over the lack of action given to classy Belgian midfielder Steven Defour towards the end of last season and reinforcements could be needed if Burnley want to avoid second-season syndrome striking.

Sam Vokes top-scored with ten Premier League goals and nine-goal Andre Gray was Burnley's biggest attacking threat, while Ashley Barnes chipped in with a further six, but nobody else managed more than two.

Increasing their attacking output without losing their solidity is a difficult balancing act and Dyche may struggle notwithstanding his quite obvious man-management qualities.

Key stat
Burnley gained only two Premier League points on the 18 occasions they conceded first last season.