THEY are both imposing former centre halves and each has had the dreaded ‘long ball’ tag bestowed upon them at some point during their managerial career.

Like Sam Allardyce though, Sean Dyche cares little about labels and more about results.

That anyone could hint that Burnley are a long ball team, given the attractive way in which they gained promotion last season, seems surprising.

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But some have tried, most notably Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal after his side drew 0-0 at Turf Moor early in the new campaign.

It is something Allardyce has faced throughout his time in the Premier League, spanning periods in charge of Bolton, Newcastle, Blackburn and now West Ham, the visitors to Turf Moor tomorrow afternoon.

A man who many assume to be unsophisticated, based on his somewhat fearsome approach to defending during his playing days, is said to prefer rather unsophisticated tactics.

Dyche’s playing style was not entirely dissimilar, so perhaps that is part of the reason why he too has faced similar stereotypes as a manager.

“No, me? A 6ft 1in ginger skinhead?” the Burnley boss laughs.

“We all like putting tags on things and on people. I don’t think it’s any more than that.

“For whatever reason people want to put a tag on anyone, not just Sam Allardyce.

“We’ve all got something out there that says something about us.”

Dyche and Allardyce meet tomorrow for the second time in a few days, and the Clarets manager is full of respect for his opponent.

Just like Allardyce, Dyche’s priority will always be wins – even if Burnley are still waiting for their first victory of the new season.

“I was with Sam Allarydce on Tuesday night at the charity event down in London, and I had a good chat with him,” Dyche said.

“Of course I have a lot of respect for him, I have for all of the managers.

“One thing I know for sure is how tough it is. The respect level in management I think is across the board.

“His record speaks for itself throughout his career and still working at the top level of football and doing a good job.

“Sam has his beliefs for sure and his record backs up his beliefs. Whatever the perception is, he gets the job done.

“People talk about brands but at the end of the day the best brand you’ll ever have is winning. That’s the job and that’s what we’re certainly trying to do.

“If you can do it in beautiful glorious ways, fantastic.

“If you can’t, you’ve still got to win. That’s the job, whatever you have to do.

“I personally try to be flexible with the group.

“I was flexible in a different way with Watford, we played longer and stronger with Watford because I felt that suited the group and that was what we needed to get wins.

“Since I’ve been at Burnley we’ve got a different kind of technical players who can deliver a different style of football,l so we’ve played more through the units as well as still allowing them to play a longer pass.

“I mentioned after the Manchester United game, why would you take away a longer pass from Kieran Trippier, one of the best passers of the ball I’ve seen for a long time at any level of football?

“I’d never take a longer pass away from him. That’s a great part of the game.”