WHEN Burnley won their first Premier League home game, Martin Tyler drove home to London with the matchwinner’s shirt in his car; the sweat from Robbie Blake’s back barely dry.

The Sky Sports commentator – the voice of Premier League since its launch in 1992 – knows history cannot repeat itself in that respect.

But second time around he has not discounted the Clarets causing an early upset against Chelsea, just as they did against Manchester United in that unforgettable Turf Moor encounter.

“My memory’s always going to be that Manchester United game, then scrabbling around in the kit skips afterwards with the help of Robbie Blake himself trying to dig out his shirt,” he smiled.

“I took it home as a souvenir for a very good friend of mine, and a former team-mate of his from Darlington.

“It was almost like a dream. It was a wonderful goal and a great night for Burnley, against a great club. That capped it off.

“I listened to the radio all the way home, with the bulletins telling how Robbie Blake had beaten Manchester United, and I had his shirt on my seat.

“The adventure was so exciting the first time.”

But it was to be short-lived, with Burnley relegated after a mid-season change of manager.

Tyler sees a difference in personnel and prospects this time around.

“Burnley entertained a lot, as well as participating in the Premier League, but you do learn the difference of management,” he said.

“It does look a different squad in terms of age, this is a much younger group, but the challenge is just the same.

“There are players who will want to prove people wrong, like Tom Heaton.

“Lukas Jutkiewicz was at Everton, Marvin Sordell has had a taste of it elsewhere.

“I think there’s a lot of hunger, and you just never know.

“Some players who you expect to do well find it tough, and other players just grow into it.

“Scott Arfield, for example, could be that player. That’s why we love it, because nobody knows. Sean Dyche doesn’t know; his judgement is put to the test.”

But Tyler expects the Clarets boss will thrive in the Premier League spotlight.

“I’m very impressed with him,” he said. “As a player he always gave the lot, and as a manager he is doing the same.

“There aren’t enough English managers, but as an industry it’s very important.”

Tyler is optimistic that Burnley can make the grade.

“No-one’s expecting European football at the end of it but I think there’s a realistic hope they can stay up,” he added.

“There’s no reason at all why this group of players can’t do it. It’s about being organised.

“The whole has to be greater than the sum of the individual parts. That’s football.

“It will be a huge test psychologically, as well as ability, but the way Sean Dyche manages they won’t be short in that department.

“He has a group he can trust.”