Burnley have developed a tried and trusted tactical formula under Sean Dyche that consistently keeps them competitive in the Premier League.
Dyche, who recently celebrated nine years in charge at Turf Moor, is not interested in experimentation with different formations.
Deploying a 4-4-2 formation in 68 per cent of his 241 top-flight matches with Burnley – and in all 10 of their fixtures this season – he is content to persist with an approach that rarely differs.
In almost a decade the 50-year-old has only used a back five on three occasions.
Burnley formations under Dyche in PL
| Formation | Times used |
| 4-4-2 (classic) | 161 |
|---|---|
| 4-4-1-1 | 64 |
| 4-5-1 | 6 |
| 4-2-3-1 | 3 |
| 5-3-2 | 2 |
| 4-1-4-1 | 1 |
| 5-4-1 | 1 |
Forward progress
One of the key traits Dyche instils in his players is the desire to make progressive forward passes.
Much of that distribution is long, with passes going from back to front, but with a hardworking front two willing to make runs into the channels, Burnley are able to gain territory efficiently.
No Premier League side sends a higher percentage of their passes in a forward direction.
And despite averaging under 40 per cent possession, only Liverpool and Manchester City have made more passes into the final third than Burnley this term.
This is a clear sign of how productive their tactical approach can be.
Always with an outlet up top, Burnley's style allows them to form quick attacks, while also relieving pressure on the back four.
Dyche and his coaching staff encourage these percentage passes more than anyone else in the division.
Most forward passes and passes into final third 2021/22
| Team | Highest forward pass | Team | Passes into final third |
| Burnley | 45.6% | Liverpool | 679 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brentford | 41.7% | Man City | 640 |
| Everton | 41.5% | Burnley | 630 |
| Newcastle | 38.9% | West Ham | 573 |
| Watford | 38.6% | Aston Villa | 569 |
Applying pressure
Out of possession, Dyche is often associated with his organisation of two compact banks of four, but he has built a pressing game into his strategy too.
A team who spend most of a match out of possession need to apply pressure and Burnley do it well in advanced areas.
Squeezing up together, with goalkeeper Nick Pope ready to be used as a sweeper 'keeper, Dyche's side are terrific at regaining the ball in the final third.
Ralph Hasenhuttl's aggressive Southampton side are the only Premier League team to win back possession on a more frequent basis in that area.
Most possession won in final third 2021/22
| Team | Total |
| Southampton | 63 |
|---|---|
| Burnley | 60 |
| Liverpool | 58 |
| Brighton | 54 |
| Leeds | 46 |
Aerial power
Modern-day Premier League defenders are used to dealing with clever movement, pace, and skill in tight spaces, so Burnley's approach is deliberately divergent.
Like Brentford, Dyche's team sense weakness when it comes to aerial duels and physicality inside the penalty area.
They have won more aerial duels than any other top-flight side, attempted more headed efforts on goal, and with four strikes in 10 matches, Burnley also boast the highest number of headed goals this season.
Playing the ball wide before sending crosses into the area works well for them.
Shrewd management
Dyche's core tactical values are a little unusual compared to his 2021 coaching peers, but that should be viewed as a positive.
As his record proves, the construction of a team with differing strengths to the rest is shrewd.
He has developed a philosophy that suits the players at his disposal, and he targets good players in the transfer market that suit this style and may be overlooked by others.
While he will no doubt look to add better technical players over time, like Maxwel Cornet for example, Dyche has found playing style that normally returns enough points to stay clear of the relegation zone.
Also in this series
Part 1: Brighton reaping benefits of flexible Potter's changes
