SEAN Dyche praised his fringe stars as they helped Burnley progress to the FA Cup fourth round.

Dyche made seven changes from the side that beat Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday, but those coming in continued the Clarets’ impressive home form as they secured a fifth successive win at Turf Moor.

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Goals from Sam Vokes and Andre Gray secured a 2-0 win and set-up a fourth round date with Bristol City a week on Saturday.

"It's the old twist in the tale. If you make changes and it doesn't work, you wouldn't be asking that question,” Dyche said after being quizzed on the changes he made.

"Before the game, it becomes are you changing the team, with that weird edge of disrespect.

"I made it clear I wasn't. I believe in the players, we have some very good players, as a group, and tonight showed that.

"We gave a very good performance. They make it clear to me every day in training they're ready, and that showed.”

Nick Pope, Tendayi Darikwa, James Tarkowski, Jon Flanagan, Joey Barton, Michael Kightly and Sam Vokes all came into the starting line-up as the Clarets cruised through their third meeting with Sunderland in 18 days.

“I was really pleased,” said Dyche. “I don't think any game is completely comfortable, but I was pleased with the performance.

"I thought, particularly the first half, we controlled large parts of it with some good play, and didn't make as many golden chances apart from a fine goal, and second half, without playing quite as well, we made a number of chances.”

Dyche was pleased with the way his side produced a different display to the battle against the Saints at the weekend to get the job done.

"I enjoyed the performance, I enjoy most of our performances, it's finding a way to win, no matter how that way is,” he said.

"Against Southampton we had to really dig in and fight and play from our shape, work and make it uncomfortable, tonight we controlled the ball better, kept the ball better and won a game.”