SEAN Dyche believes it sends a 'great message' that Burnley go into tomorrow's Turf Moor tussle with Tottenham ahead of them in the Premier League table.

The fixture will mark the halfway point of the season for both sides and it's the Clarets sitting in sixth, one point and one place ahead of Spurs before battle commences on Saturday (5.30pm).

Burnley will look to continue their dream season as they mix it with the top six come Christmas time and Dyche is delighted with the progress his side have made this term.

“I think that’s a great message (that we’re above Spurs). I think the main thing I’m pleased with is that we continue to move forward, that’s a really big thing," the Clarets chief said.

“When we find that healthy balance to be moving things forward on the pitch visually, and the background of the club, that’s something I’m really proud of.

"And there’s other people involved, it’s not just me and the players, the staff, the board, other parts of the club, and the clear mindedness of everyone at the club helps bring it all together and that feel good factor of what we’re trying to achieve.

"That, of course, often starts with results. Results have been good, performances have been good, so it glues all that good stuff together."

Burnley have collected 32 points so far this season despite scoring just 16 goals in their 18 league fixtures.

While Dyche would like to see his side trouble the scorers more often he admits it can be difficult to find the balance between troubling the opposition and keeping it tight at the back, something the Clarets have achieved with just 12 goals conceded.

“Still some work in the scoring market, but we’ve spoken many times down the years about that balance between being strong enough not to open the gates to the opposition, and being strong enough at the other end to go and score goals," he said.

“It’s the hardest balance in football, and it’s what every manager wants. I can assure you, a lot is made of Man City’s prowess going forward, but they’re still going ‘look how many clean sheets we’ve had, and how few goals we’ve let in’.

“That’s how managers, staff and players think.

“We’ve found the right side of that balance and it must continue, we are going into a real tough run, but I say it all the time, the Premier League is tough no matter who you’re playing, there’s no gimmies so we look forward to every game as it comes."

Tomorrow sees the return of Kieran Trippier to Turf Moor, with Dyche revealing his pride in the development of a right-back who played 185 games under his watch at Burnley.

“He did a great job here and he’s doing a really good job there," he said.

“I think anyone we’ve had some form of attachment to, it’s valid (to be proud) because the way I look at my career, you learn something from everyone you work with, so I’d like to think we’ve played a little part, adding to what he does now, and other managers along the way will add to that.

“He’s a fine player."