Sean Dyche happy to celebrate Premier League return with service station coffee

02 May 2016 08:23

Sean Dyche saw his Burnley side seal a £100million promotion to the Barclays Premier League but was happy to shun a champagne celebration for a service station coffee.

The Clarets secured a top-two finish in the Sky Bet Championship with a 1-0 win over QPR, courtesy of Sam Vokes' brilliant second-half header.

That took their unbeaten run to 22 matches, confirming their return to the top flight at the first opportunity and a bumper pay day as broadcast rights soar for the 2016/17 campaign.

But while Dyche was content for his players to mark the occasion in style, he planned to recreate his modest celebration from the previous promotion campaign.

"It feels fantastic. It's marvellous. But I'll be in the car later, driving down the M6 with my kids and my wife," he said.

"I'll probably grab a coffee at McDonald's like I normally do.

"Two years ago people were staring at me like 'is he really in here getting a coffee?', but I am normal, I do have a life, and that's what I'll be doing.

"The lads will get a couple of days off, no mistake, and if they have a couple of drams they deserve it.

"But come Thursday, or Wednesday, they'll be ready to train. We've got a chance to win the title now and we must be ready to take it."

There were joyous celebrations at Turf Moor, with fans pouring on to the pitch while Dyche and his charges took in the moment with their families.

But the manager was eager to stress that promotion was only one part of the season's aims.

Having finished second to Leicester in 2013/14, his eyes are firmly on lifting the Championship trophy.

"We'll be focused on Saturday (against Charlton) I can assure you. We were runners-up last time don't forget," Dyche added.

"So we want to win it. That will be the focus. We'll go and win it, that's our job.

"Let's enjoy it now because this is another part of history for this club and history runs deep here."

Wales striker Vokes was a fitting hero of the day, having missed the back end of the Clarets' previous promotion push through injury as well as a large part of the following campaign.

"It's magic, it's a great feeling," he told Sky Sports.

"You could feel the anticipation around the place when we kicked off.

"Getting that goal sparked relief around the place.

"I missed a lot of the Premier League last season but hopefully I'll get another chance next season."

Central defender Ben Mee, who has been a key figure at the back throughout the campaign told Radio 5 Live: "Emotions are running high.

"All the boys have been immense and everyone has contributed to this.

"We will enjoy this but we want to go and win the league now. That is the next step."

Manager Dyche added: "The result counted today. We know we are miles better than the performance, but the resilience and work ethic was on show again today.

"Ian Holloway once said we had a strong jaw. He meant it as a compliment. We don't think we are the real deal, not at all, but we're a real group of people.

"Two years ago we went under the radar. This year we have gone 22 games unbeaten and got promotion. That is unbelievable."

Source: PA