BURNLEY manager Sean Dyche has labelled Saints a “decent outfit” ahead of his visit to St Mary’s on Saturday.

The 50-year-old manager is now the boss of one of just three sides that remain without a Premier League win so far this season after Ralph Hasenhuttl and Saints’ victory over Leeds last weekend.

Burnley have picked up just three points altogether from their first eight, but given they’ve just survived the drop in five successive seasons – with a finish as high as Europa League-qualifying seventh (2017-18) – you wouldn’t bet against them turning their form around.

Saints did the double over Dyche’s side last season but went seven in a row without victory before that, so both clubs and managers will be aware of the dangers each team can bring.

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“Tricky start for them (Saints),” Dyche identified, “always seem to me like a decent outfit.”

Daily Echo: Saints defeated Burnley in an entertaining 3-2 at St Mary's in April (Pic: PA)Saints defeated Burnley in an entertaining 3-2 at St Mary's in April (Pic: PA)

He continued: “Organised, want to work hard, try and take the game on, like we do ourselves. They worked hard to get a result, it was a first win for them and that’s sometimes what it needs.

“Our job is to go down there and take on the game again. I think we’ve done that well this season and make sure the details are right. Certainly it’s a game that we feel we can go and get something from and win, but we feel that about most games.

“We tried to go to Man City with that mindset, winning mindset. They’re a good outfit but I think we’re in decent shape ourselves, other than getting that win of course.”