Many predicted Burnley to be favourites for relegation at the start of the season.

Despite the club’s lack of financial power making it almost impossible for the team to compete in the Premier League, they currently sit in 19th place. That may sound pretty dismal but they are only two points from safety, which is something of an improvement considering the rather hopeless start they had to the season.

A lot of expectation rests on the shoulders of one of the best young managers in the English game at the moment, the husky-voiced Sean Dyche. He has set up the Burnley team as best as he can, making them a compact unit that are difficult to break down. The team has kept four clean sheets so far this season, a respectable sum considering the position they occupy in the Premier League table.

The biggest problem for Burnley is their lack of goals. The return of Danny Ings has injected fresh impetus into a side that looked desperate for a goal in his absence.

Ings now offers a sense of pace and urgency to a front line that was made up of Lukas Jutkiewicz and Marvin Sordell in his absence. The two strikers are competent performers at Championship level but look out of their depth when it comes to getting goals in the Premier League.

Danny Ings has quickly become Burnley’s top scorer with four goals in the league. Hopefully, the return of Sam Vokes will add a greater attacking threat to the side, allowing him to rekindle the deadly strike partnership he shared with Danny Ings in the Championship last season.

Vokes grabbed a brace in a development match against Sheffield United a few days ago. If he can offer Burnley another genuine scoring threat, it will give Dyche greater confidence to commit more men forward.

Home form is also another vital aspect to Burnley’s quest for survival. They are currently unbeaten in their last three home fixtures in the league, however, only one of these games ended in a Burnley victory. Another required an 87th minute Danny Ings penalty just to rescue a point against a struggling Aston Villa side.

Dyche will know that changing draws into victories will be the key to the Clarets’ survival. Also, their willingness to attack in away games should make them pick up vital points on the road, with their performance against Stoke City at the Britannia probably their best display thus far.

The problem for Sean Dyche and his team is the sheer lack of depth in a squad that has barely evolved from the Championship side of last season. The addition of George Boyd for £3.5 million broke Burnley’s transfer record, which gives you an idea of the size of the club, and the challenge facing Dyche when they are competing in the same league as the financial powerhouses of Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United.

Although they may not be able to compete with the big boys financially, signing players like Boyd has improved the team as the former Hull winger has chipped in with two goals already this season. Dyche will be hoping that the busy winter schedule will not expose his side’s lack of depth.

Luckily for the Burnley manager it looks like Vokes will be back in time to feature in the congested fixture list that makes up the festive season. Dyche will be hoping his side don’t pick up too many injuries over this period – and if Burnley can avoid an injury crisis – then Dyche may just lead them to Premier League safety.

The club said that they would stick by Sean Dyche regardless of what happens this season. This is completely understandable as Dyche has proved that he can get the best out of a Burnley side that will be continually attempting to punch above their weight throughout the campaign.

However, if Burnley are to survive, a lot of credit will go to the former Watford manager with his management and organisation of a slim squad is already deserving of praise.