Dyche: Sunderland speculation ‘paper talk’

Sean Dyche: Burnley manager linked with Sunderland job

Sean Dyche: Burnley manager linked with Sunderland job

Burnley boss Sean Dyche has flat-batted talk he is set to take over at beleaguered Sunderland and labelled the speculation “paper talk”.

Dyche, who saw his side return to winning ways in the Sky Bet Championship with a 2-1 success at Rotherham on Friday night, is reportedly the Black Cats’ number one target to replace Dick Advocaat, who looks all set to quit after Saturday’s clash with West Ham.

But Dyche, who built a fine reputation following the Clarets’ exploits in the Premier League last season, was not willing to discuss it.

“I was asked about this the other day, at the end of the day, I know it’s a paper story, that’s all I know,” he said.

“My focus is here, that’s all I can do. It’s nothing to do with me, it’s a paper story. I know nothing of that.”

His reputation will only have been enhanced after the win in South Yorkshire moved Burnley up to third ahead of Saturday’s games. But whether or not he will be officially approached by Sunderland, who are also keen on former Leicester boss Nigel Pearson, remains to be seen.

They took the three points thanks to Sam Vokes’ 80th-minute winner, which came after Grant Ward’s superb strike for Rotherham cancelled out Andre Gray’s early opener.

And Dyche was pleased his side came through a tough test against the managerless Millers.

“There has got to be credit to them, sometimes the hardest fight is the one that every thinks you’re going to win, but I thought we deserved it overall,” Dyche added.

“They kept fighting, they kept pressing, they pressed very hard, they gave everything to try and win. They get a worldy out of the blue and all of a sudden it’s ‘What’s gone on there’. I am delighted with the mentality of the players, it rubs off on each other.

“The madness of the Championship, I thought we were terrific last week and we lost and I thought were were okay tonight and we have won.

“That’s the challenge of the Championship, finding all those different ways to win the game.”