SEAN Dyche welcomed being a point closer to the Championship summit, and said supporters should too.

The Clarets were knocked off top spot for the first time in two months following defeat to Huddersfield on Saturday.

And although a goalless draw at home to Watford in midweek meant a fifth league game without a win – albeit just one defeat in 14 games – the result drew Burnley back to within a point of first place, despite dropping out of the top two and down to the bare bones of their squad following injuries to top scorer Danny Ings and midfielder Dean Marney, and Michael Duff’s one match ban.

“There was a funny feeling in the ground, a couple of ironic cheers of players,” said Dyche.

“That’s interesting when you’re third in the table and a point off the top.

“It depends how your cup is, whether it’s half full or half empty.

“Teams don’t come to Turf Moor and lay down and let us win, they come here to work hard.

“We’re happy with what we’re achieving here and we want to achieve more.

“We don’t want to settle for it and there’s no sign of that.

“There was a really strong performance in many areas.

“We’ve made a good habit of how strong our physicality is and I thought for the last 10 minutes the lads were full out to get a win and I think that’s an invaluable quality over a season.”

And Dyche was satisfied with the outcome of the changes he had to make, with Scott Arfield playing off lone striker Sam Vokes in Ings’ absence, Kevin Long deputising for Duff, a double change out wide with both Junior Stanislas and Keith Treacy starting, and Brian Stock lining up alongside David Jones in central midfield.

“We were down to virtually the end of our squad and we had to make changes.

“Those changes delivered on the whole a reasonable performance and could have edged it,” said the Burnley boss. “I think they did well in general but it’s not always easy when you’re coming in and out and then back in again.

“Mostly there were some good signs and in the first half we dominated.

“That’s not an easy thing to do against good side.

“But on the whole it’s another point gained and another point closer to the top."