Sean Dyche exclusive interview: Burnley boss on leadership in a relegation struggle and what he told Dwight McNeil

Sean Dyche is holding court in his press conference. The subjects are varied as he regales the assembled journalists about the night he saw Prince at the O2, the impeccable casting of Peaky Blinders and how the book of the Da Vinci Code is better than the film.

There are even jokes about his hair colour – brown, he insists, not ginger. The mood is relaxed, no hint of Burnley’s precarious position in the Premier League table. They remain in the relegation zone despite the thrilling 3-2 win over Everton on Wednesday.

“Not dead yet” – expletive removed – was the verdict of goalkeeper Nick Pope when caught yelling out in victory. But speaking to his manager in a side room at the club’s training ground in Padiham, there is a sense that even defeat would not have derailed Dyche.

“There are certain games that seem more important, that you might have a better chance in,” he tells Sky Sports. “Guess what? They don’t just give you a result. You have to play and play hard to find the big moments to win those games – like we did against Everton.”

Dyche made three changes to his team for that game, bringing in Nathan Collins, Hay Rodriguez and Maxwell Cornet. All three scored. He brought on Matt Lowton, who curtailed Richarlison’s influence, and Matej Vydra, who provided the assist for the winning goal.

“I don’t try to gloat in those moments,” says Dyche.

“I certainly didn’t put those players in thinking they would all definitely score. That is not how this works. If you do that you are a better manager than me, that is for sure.