SEAN Dyche hailed the depth in his Burnley squad after some of his fringe players helped the Clarets to an FA Cup draw at Sunderland.

The two sides will contest a replay at Turf Moor next week for the right to reach the fourth round after this Stadium of Light stalemate, but Dyche admitted he was frustrated not to see his side get the job done at the first time of asking.

James Tarkowski hit the post with a header while Andre Gray, Sam Vokes and Ashley Barnes all had chances to win it for Burnley.

It was an 11th away game in league and cup this season without a win for the Clarets, but this was one of their best performances on the road this season.

"I think chance-wise we're frustrated not to win it, I thought we made three, four even more promising opportunities, but two or three really golden opportunities,” said Dyche.

"On another day I think we win the match.

"We made some changes, I was really pleased, I think we're working with a squad where there's fine margins between the players, and I'm pleased with how the players handled today.

"Overall it was a good performance.

"We were on the front foot, that's how we want to play home and away, a lot has been made of our away league form, but you can see we want to take the game on and win games, and that was evident.

"I was really pleased with the mentality, particularly as the game went on, I think we looked really fit and strong, and looked like we were trying to win the tie.”

As well as Tarkowski coming in there were also rare starts for Nick Pope and Tendayi Darikwa, while Joey Barton completed 90 minutes in his first game back for the club alongside Steven Defour in midfield, who came through his first full game for the club.

“I thought Joey did well, I thought his fitness was good, it's not easy coming in after the break he's had, he stayed calm with the ball, Steven (Defour) got through his first 90 for the club, which I'm pleased about,” said Dyche.

"I thought he gathered pace as the game went on, which is pleasing, him and Joey.

"They began to control the midfield as the game went on.

"I'm super pleased with the fitness of the lads, who haven't been playing regularly - Tendayi (Darikwa) particularly, fantastic to come in and play like he did, physically, and to play and handle it...Tarky (James Tarkowski) of course, players who haven't played a lot of football this season, but they've shown they're ready when called upon.

"And obviously for Popey (Nick Pope), he gets a clean sheet and was pretty quiet, but still made a good save for us.

“He's a good keeper, we like him, he's learning all the time, his kicking was good, and he's a giant of a lad. I like the way he played with an assured manner.

“There's a lot of positives.”

But on the downside Scott Arfield and Johann Berg Gudmundsson both limped off in the second half, and Dyche added: "I'll have to wait and see on them. It looks like two minor hamstrings, but we'll have to wait and see.

“It will be Monday realistically. That's the only niggle really, we possibly have two players down.”

Neither of Burnley’s season-long loan signings made the squad, while George Boyd was also absent from the matchday 18.

“Flanno and Boydy with just a niggle, I don't think it's a worry,” said Dyche. “Flanno trained on Friday but it was just too quick with his history with his knee, so it was the right thing to do.

"Patrick Bamford was ill.”