THE two managers have exchanged pleasantries ahead of tonight’s Carabao Cup clash, with Tony Mowbray praising Sean Dyche’s ‘earthy qualities’ after leading Burnley to the Premier League.

Mowbray will take charge of his first East Lancashire derby, while counterpart Dyche will be looking to extend his unbeaten run against Rovers to seven games.

Ahead of tonight’s game Dyche recalled a meeting between the pair when they were Watford and Middlesbrough managers respectively, when a few words of encouragement from Mowbray lifted his spirits after a run of defeats.

And Mowbray admits there is an admiration for the job that Dyche has done at Turf Moor.

“I think every manager has time for Sean, he’s such an honest, normal, humble guy and you can only have warmth towards him,” Mowbray said.

“He gets on with his job, doesn’t complain and you can see his earthy qualities, the hard work has got him where it has got him and you can’t not like Sean Dyche.

“Some managers can be a bit aloof, can take the glory for having some world class players, and I think Sean drills his teams, works them hard and demands a work ethic off them.

“He only buys certain types of footballers who fit in to his beliefs and he gets the job done.

“Being a working class guy from a working class background I can see what he brings and I am chuffed for him that he has made his way to the Premier League and they have managed to stay there, he has done exceptionally well.

“Whether you do or don’t like Burnley I am sure that you look at their manager and you see a hardworking guy who gets on with his team.”