WHILE management teams often share a drink after a game, Sean Dyche and Stuart Pearce could have been swapping the London Stadium technical areas for a gig on Saturday night.

Dyche and Hammers assistant Pearce will be renewing acquaintances dating back 31 years on Saturday, when Nottingham Forest and England left-back Pearce took a young Dyche under his wing at the City Ground when the two were injured.

Although their playing careers went in opposite directions a shared love of music led to a long friendship and Pearce took Dyche and his assistant Ian Woan to see Green Day in Manchester just over a year ago.

Pearce's passion for punk rock is well known and he invited Dyche to see The Vaccines in London after the game on Saturday, although the Clarets boss had to turn down the offer as he has his family down with him.

"He took myself and Woany to watch Green Day. It was fantastic," said Dyche.

"He’s softening down to Green Day! Easing off to Green Day."

It was 1987 when Dyche and Pearce first crossed paths in the East Midlands.

"I only got to know him because he had a rare injury. He very rarely had a serious injury but I think he had a bad hamstring injury," Dyche remembered.

"Myself and Steve Stone had broken legs together. So he took us under his wing because he was in the gym and with us for quite a long time.

"He liked music, I liked music and we went to a few gigs and that together. Not just us, but a group of us, and we stayed in contact over the years, not just me but Ian Woan as well."

Pearce hailed Dyche as an 'outstanding manager' earlier this week but Dyche has never forgotten Pearce's support at the City Ground.

"I can’t remember his exact debut but he was around England," he said.

"The rest is history with him career wise. We’ve stayed in contact all these years, coaching and the odd gig now and again and a bit of music. It’s mutual respect and friendship which comes from years of knowing each other."

Burnley face a West Ham side who have suffered successive 4-1 defeats this weekend but Dyche is still expecting a tough fixture against the Hammers.

"It’s not that easy. They are in a tough spell after David Moyes doing well when he first went in and calming everything done," the Turf boss said.

"It’s not an easy task for us. They’re fighting for points, we’re know fighting for points for different reasons."