SEAN Dyche hailed Burnley’s unbeaten run to promotion as ‘unbelievable’ as the Clarets secured a Premier League return at the first time of asking.

After watching Middlesbrough and Brighton stumble, Dyche’s side were presented with the opportunity to guarantee promotion with a game to spare and in front of their own fans.

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And they did just that with a 1-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers as Sam Vokes’ header sent Turf Moor wild.

Burnley were fifth after a 3-0 defeat at Hull on Boxing Day, eight points behind the automatic promotion places, but a 22 game unbeaten run has seen them hit top spot at the perfect time and they will secure the title with a win at Charlton on Saturday.

“My staff have been absolutely fantastic, kept their eye on the ball,” said Dyche.

“We were heavily questioned around the Christmas period, but I said ‘we’re fine, moulding, looking like a good team, looking like where I think it can go’, and through all of that, 22 games unbeaten to finish with promotion, that is unbelievable by anyone’s standards.

“I keep hearing we didn’t play well. Twenty-two games unbeaten? How many did we not play well in? You can’t play not that well in all of them!

“It’s 50-odd points in those games, and the standard is two points a game – unbelievable.”

Since Boxing Day the Clarets have taken eight points more than Brighton and 10 more than Middlesbrough, who have played an extra game.

They weren’t at their best on Monday but again found a way to win, something that has been a trademark this season.

“It was an ugly performance, but let’s face it, they’re human beings, they’ve seen the other two results, they know what’s on it, the crowd are edgy, more than two years ago, because their expectation has changed,” said Dyche.

“And they’ve seen through that and found a way to win. I say it all the time, 45 league games, it’s hard to be brilliant every week, it’s a very difficult thing. You’ve got 11 others out there trying to stop you from doing that, so find a way to win, and we’ve done it again with a fantastic moment of clarity from a great set piece, and a great finish.”