BURNLEY’S team spirit is built on ‘old-fashioned’ values, according to boss Sean Dyche.

The Clarets unyielding resilience and never-say-die attitude has been a key feature of their season once again.

That’s been especially clear during the 18-game unbeaten Championship run that has taken them into the division’s top two, having been eight points adrift of the automatic promotion places on Boxing Day.

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Burnley were not at their best in the victory over Leeds on Saturday, but afterwards Dyche praised his side’s ability to grind out victories.

Asked how he had gone about instilling the spirit that is a key hallmark of this Clarets side, Dyche said: “From the culture you build.

“It took a bit of time when I got here to get it how I wanted it and to get the environment and the culture that I think is appropriate for footballers to work and to grow and improve too here.

“We safeguard it here. It’s still an ongoing process but it’s fair to say the building blocks are there and it’s built on good foundations.

“A lot of this is simple. We don’t try to be too clever with ourselves and with them. It’s the key core values which people talk of as being old fashioned now; pride, passion, will to work, dedication- they all go into the melting pot.

“Then you add in the tactical profile, the technical details and the physicality to the game, but you still need a scratch of luck at times.”

Dyche laid the foundations for building Burnley’s spirit early on his time at Turf Moor, but promotion to the Barclays Premier League in his first full season in charge has given the club the finances to help add to that now, with the £10.6million redevelopment of the Gawthorpe training ground a key factor, while he also praised the rest of his staff for helping set the tone.

“Other than the finance, the rest is by design, but you need finance to carry all that good stuff out mostly,” said the Clarets chief.

“So the cultural shift and environment we set, you don’t necessarily need money for that, although there’s miniscule amounts to improve the analysis and sports science.

“The bigger picture takes finance, and that usually comes from being successful.

“So I’m pleased with that, success brings extra finance, and that enhances the chance to do all the things I thought when I got here that were appropriate to move things forward on and off the pitch.

“Some are my thoughts, the board probably knew they needed a new training ground, that wasn’t rocket science.

“Then there are the thoughts of all my staff, who are invaluable, it’s important that the players know the expectation of their roles, and that can’t just come from me, it has to come from the staff as well.”