KEEPING the same back four that played a key role in Burnley’s promotion from the Championship has helped them settle in the top flight, according to left-back Ben Mee.

The combination of Kieran Trippier, Michael Duff, Jason Shackell and Mee, playing in front of Tom Heaton, helped the Clarets to the best defensive record in the league last season.

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It is a record they have carried into the Premier League, with a third clean sheet in a row secured in a goalless draw against Sunderland on Saturday.

While players such as Stephen Ward, Steven Reid and Michael Keane have been brought in to add competition for places, they face a battle to force their way into the starting line-up.

“It’s worked well for us,” said Mee.

“We did well last year to keep clean sheets, I think we were one of the best, if not the best, in the Championship, and we’ve just bought the same sort of structure as we did from last year and it’s looking well so far and hopefully we can keep many more coming up.

“We’ve got some new players in but it’s always good to have some competition in and it just makes everyone work that little bit harder.”

Tripper, Duff, Shackell and Mee have started every league game so far this season, and they have all played a vital role in the three successive 0-0 draws against Manchester United, Crystal Palace and Sunderland.

Their endeavours have only earned the Clarets three points though, as the strikers continue to search for the first goal since the opening day of the season, but it is not something Mee is worried about.

“We just kind of need that bit of luck up front,” he said.

“We’re working well as a unit to stop conceding goals and we just need a bit of luck, one in off the shin or something like that to go in for us. We’re pleased with how we defended again on Saturday.

“Once it starts going in at the other end we’ve got a good base to work from as we’re not conceding goals.

“It’s the hardest thing to do in football to score goals, but we’ve got some good strikers here who are going to be able to, we’ve got midfielders that are going to chip in and it’s just a little bit of luck we’re looking for but I’m sure it will come.”

The back four have worked together under Dyche for the past two years, and the manager’s involvement with them on the training pitch has been a key factor in their development as a group.

“We do a bit during the week,” said Mee.

“Obviously the gaffer has been a defender throughout his career and knows a bit himself so it’s good to get his experience and to build on that and it all makes sense to us when we’re working on it.

“We work hard at what we do in training as a unit in the defence and we put that into practice and it’s going well for us.”

Mee is playing in the Premier League for the first time this season.

“It’s intriguing, every game you come up against a different type of player,” he said.

“It’s good to play against these players, it’s a great experience.”