Burnley win at City could be as big a shock as Chesterfield's cup run, says boss Sean Dyche

Dyche was Spireites captain in that run just over two decades ago, scoring a penalty at Old Trafford in a 3-3 draw with Premier League Middlesbrough in the semi-finals before the third tier side were knocked out in a replay.

Chesterfield came close to reaching Wembley, leading Boro 2-0 before being pegged back. But while there were two divisions between the sides in that meeting, and the third round tie at the Etihad today is first versus seventh in the Premier League, Dyche believes the margins between the favourites and the underdog are similar.

"I don’t know how you’d look at it in real terms because you look at Chesterfield to Middlesbrough and there was a massive gap in league placings," he said.

"The difference is there’s now a gap in the same division. That’s the thing that’s changed."

It's a change that isn't likely to be reversed anytime soon thanks to the sums in the game and the overseas investment made in clubs such as City, which Dyche believes could make the gap even bigger than it was between sides from the first and third tier in the 90s.

"If you really want a level playing field then give everyone the same money, or have a draft system," the Turf boss said.

"So the difference has become that in one division, the same division, what we’re doing compared to them is hugely different.

"Back then it was factually different, because Chesterfield were down there and Middlesbrough were up here. There was a huge gap. Now we’re the same division, but in some ways there’s probably a bigger gap, when you look at finances etc.

"But that’s just a fact. It’s not about crying it in or feeling jealous. It’s a fact that their (City's) owners have baked that club probably more than any other club in the game – well, maybe PSG are on the same level now. "

Burnley as high as 20/1 to record a win at City on third round day. In contrast League Two Luton are around 6/1 to win at Premier League Newcastle.

Asked if a Clarets win would be a bigger upset than if Chesterfield had dumped Middlesbrough out, Dyche said: "A different kind of upset, because on the other hand we are in the same league.

"We’ve been worthy of some good results this season, so it’s a different thing. I don’t think any of us saw even five years ago how big the gap would get.

"It was always there of course – you always had your Man Us, and your Arsenals, and then I think it was Matthew Harding who started putting big money into Chelsea, and then Abramovic came in and went bam.

"That’s what changed it all. Since then it’s all escalated and the sheiks have come in and put in massive amounts of money. So now we’re in the same league, but there’s that massive gap in resources – that’s what has changed.