Football
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Burnley's achievements under Dyche equal to Pep's at Man City - Hughton

Chris Hughton feels Sean Dyche's achievements at Burnley are on a par with Pep Guardiola's success at runaway leaders Manchester City.

The Clarets face Hughton's Brighton on Saturday and are flying high in sixth place, looking down on the likes of Arsenal and 2015-16 Premier League champions Leicester.

"Everybody is looking at City and saying they have been outstanding and they have this huge gap at the top of the division,'' said Hughton.

"I think Burnley's achievements are very much right up there with what City have done.

"You have to do it over a season, of course, and it will probably be harder for Burnley, with the size of the club, to maintain it over a season than it will be for the bigger teams.

"But if you're asking me right at this moment then, yes. Sean's achievement for what he's done at Burnley is right up there with what Manchester City have done.''

Hughton says Burnley are reaping the benefits of keeping faith with Dyche, having bucked the trend when they were relegated in 2015 by opting to stick with their manager rather than pull the trigger.

"I think there is a message there,'' added the Seagulls boss. "A high percentage of clubs wouldn't have seen the manager there the following season, having gone down.

"That is testament to Burnley and also to the individual. When Burnley went down they weren't out of sight, adrift of everyone else. They were always in it. They obviously saw enough in Sean.

"Credit to Burnley. They saw a good opportunity to keep a good manager and give him the opportunity to bring them back up again.''

Midfielder Pascal Gross and striker Glenn Murray are set to return to the Brighton starting line-up against the Clarets after dropping to the bench for the 2-0 defeat at Tottenham in midweek.

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