The ‘never-say-die spirit’ of Burnley’s players has been highlighted ahead of the Clarets’ Premier League clash with Norwich City on Saturday.
The Lancashire club's former manager Owen Coyle has been speaking about the early season form of Sean Dyche's team, following a 1-1 draw at Brighton on Saturday.
Neal Maupay's strike in the 51st minute looked to have the Seagulls on course for victory, only for Jeff Hendrick to score for the visitors in the 90th minute and snatch a point at the Amex Stadium.
Burnley were initially promoted to the top flight under Dyche in 2014 but came straight back down. They returned as champions in 2016 and established themselves by finishing 16th in 2017 and then a hugely impressive seventh in 2018.
That brought a Europa League qualification campaign and after wins over Aberdeen and Basaksehir over two legs, before losing 4-2 on aggregate to Olympiakos at the play-off stage.
"They had a really slow start last year and I think a lot of that had to do with Europa League commitments," Coyle said, speaking on BBC Radio Five Live.
"I know this because we were involved in it at Wigan, you play on a Thursday and then a Sunday and it changes your whole schedule, which is really challenging.
"But they finished last season well and they've started how they finished. Sunday summed up, not that it was an outstanding performance, but it shows you the spirit they have, the never-say-die attitude to go to the final minute.
"And Hendrick's goal, he picks it up on the halfway line, plays a little one-two into the striker and hits a 25-yarder right into the corner, it was outstanding."
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The Clarets were third from bottom in the Premier League at the halfway stage of last season with just three wins from 18 games, but rallied with eight wins from the remaining 18 matches to finish 15th and six points clear of trouble.
Coyle continued: "But what it really showed for me was the work, the team ethic and ethos that they have, they're all in it together and that comes from Sean, the manager has done outstanding there and it's a fantastic club."
Burnley beat Southampton 3-0 at home on the opening day and then lost 2-1 at Arsenal, drew 1-1 at Wolves and were beaten 3-0 at Turf Moor by Liverpool, prior to their draw at Brighton.
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