AS anniversaries go, Sean Dyche passing the five-year milestone on Monday night is pretty remarkable in the modern game.

And while the game against Newcastle might not have been a blockbuster in terms of entertainment but it was a very welcome three points at the Turf.

In many ways it was a Dyche win in a nutshell – tight at the back, plenty of determination and a goal which came about because we were quickest to the second ball. Simple but very effective as we’re finding out this season.

To be fair, the Clarets looked excellent in spells, especially when we were dictating the tempo and trying to move the ball quickly via the near-faultless midfield pairing of Jack Cork and Steven Defour.

Cork and Defour looked like they were having their own battle to be crowned man of the match and I think Cork just about pipped it for me.

I’ve waxed lyrical about them both individually on these pages in the past and just a couple of weeks ago I was tipping Cork for an England call. My opinion hasn’t changed – if Gareth Southgate is looking for a midfielder to control things going in both directions than Cork is the man.

Another player the England boss would do well to run the rule over is Jonjo Shelvey.

He was Newcastle’s best player by a country mile and I think if you can get his head in the right place – and Rafa Benitez appears to have done that – then he’s some player.

I still think we’re yet to see a performance where everyone is on top of their game.

On Monday there were one or two frustrating performances but I guess we’re just being picky these days.

Expectation levels have risen to such a degree – not helped by the fact we currently lie seventh in the Premier League table – that a dip in performance level by anyone is picked up and analysed.

The fact is we’re still only lost twice all season and the only game we’ve gone into this season where I didn’t think we had a chance of getting something was Manchester City. How mad is that?

Southampton are the hosts on Saturday and, having seen them a couple of times this season, I don’t see anything to be worried about.

It’s another test of character and resilience but we’ve proved this year already we’re up to that.

Over to you lads…