A HOME game against Chelsea is where it all started in the Premier League for Burnley and Sean Dyche.

After an unexpected promotion in 2013/14 Dyche took charge of his first ever Premier League game, and Burnley's first back in the top flight in five years, against the Blues on Monday, August 18 2014.

It was an occasion to remember at Turf Moor and although Scott Arfield fired the Clarets ahead they ended up losing 3-1 to Jose Mourinho's side, who produced some breathtaking football on the opening day of a season they were to end up dominating.

There have been a further 61 top flight games for Dyche and Burnley since, sandwiched either side of a title-winning return to the Championship, and the boss believes it is a very different Clarets team, and a very different manager, who will face Chelsea tomorrow.

"A lot of management comes from experience so I've experienced a lot since then, trying to get a ream to stay in the division, then remodel it when we were relegated and get it back up," said Dyche.

"We are different. I think I’m different, my staff are and the players. I think we’ve learnt a lot in that two-and-a-half years."

While that was Dyche's first experience of management at the highest level, it was also a first taste of the Premier League for over half of that 2014/15 side.

Of the 14 players involved that night four are set to feature again on Sunday, 910 days after that 3-1 defeat, in Tom Heaton, Ben Mee, Scott Arfield and Ashley Barnes, who all made their Premier League debuts in that game.

"We’re slightly more rounded due to the experience we’ve had," said Dyche.

"It does come down to that. You can only really go through your learning curve from actually managing through all these experiences.

"You can’t define it by this game but we’re a more rounded side and a more rounded club in respect of being in this league.

"There’s a different feel this time around. Last time we were a bit unsure about it. This time we’re a bit more assured in how we play, there’s a bit more knowledge to what it is being in the Premier League, the media, being on TV."

While Dyche admits he has improved and learnt from that opening day defeat two years ago, he has also seen the huge strides taken by some of the players in that side, with Heaton, Mee, Arfield and Barnes now having 225 Premier League appearances between them.

"Behind what I have to do as a manager which is to win games I like to see players improve," said Dyche.

"Whether that’s tactically, professionally, physically, mentally, to see a group develop and improve is great.

"The obvious ones are Scotty, Jonah (David Jones) and Heats who came on free transfers. Tom was relegated, Scotty was scrapping around for a Southend or an MK Dons I think it was at the time, Jonah was waiting at home on idle promises.

"Those three stand out in my mind for the vast difference from where they were to where they are now.

"Everyone has moved forward. Look at the growth in Ben Mee and Barnesy, Dean Marney, the experience he has brought to what we do.

"There are so many good stories here. It’s a constant part of what we do. I really enjoy it and my staff do as well. We’re learning as well so it works for everyone."