Burnley captain Ben Mee is urging his side to capitalise on their promising start to the Premier League campaign as they prepare to take on in-form Chelsea.
Frank Lampard’s team head to Turf Moor on Saturday fresh from a tremendous Champions League victory at Ajax in midweek which extended their winning run to six in all competitions.
But Mee is encouraged by the Clarets’ own start to the season and knows they have a chance to close the gap on fourth-placed Chelsea to just two points.
“We’ve started the season well and we’ve something to build on,” Mee said. “Hopefully like last year, we can get stronger and stronger and be in a really positive position.
“But it’s early days. We just want to carry on with that mentality and the type of performances we’ve been producing.
“They’re on a real good run. They’ve got some good, young talent mixed with a few older heads and it’s certainly a real good blend.
“It’s always good to see young English boys doing well and thriving in the Premier League. We’ll have a job on our hands, it will be a real good challenge.”
The Clarets famously stunned the reigning champions on their own ground on the opening day of the 2017-18 season and followed that up with a hard-earned point in a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge last term.
Chelsea got their revenge with a 4-0 win at Turf Moor last October but Burnley have won three of their four home games so far this campaign and Mee is hoping they can extend that impressive run.
“You want to make your home ground a tough place to come,” Mee said. “Over the years we’ve managed to do that.
“Last year we slackened a bit but we’re back to playing well at home and teams coming here know they’re in for a real tough game.”
Burnley manager Sean Dyche has been impressed with Lampard’s start to his managerial career back at his old club.
“Frank is putting his own stamp on things and they are a very good side, without a doubt,” said Dyche, who will next week celebrate seven years in the job at Turf Moor. “I like what the players are producing.
“I can only speak from the outside looking in but he’s had a learning curve in the Championship and he’s obviously dealing with a better group of players.
“I think he has added to that and he’s adding his own way in how he wants the team to perform.
“You can see the pressing lines, the sharp energy of the side, the backline trying to advance and shorten the pitch, he’s quite obviously looked at the technical things.
“And he’s still trying to find pockets of quality by using some of the young players, with that bit of freedom that comes with young players, they don’t overthink it.
“His challenge – and he’ll probably know – is to try and make that last a season.”
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