THERE was a light-hearted attempt, in both managers’ press conferences, to dub tonight’s Turf Moor meeting as a ‘battle of the beards’.

“It’s a different kind of level,” said Sean Dyche of Newcastle United counterpart Rafa Benitez’s facial hair.

“Mine’s a bit trimmer, bit shorter. War of the goatees, is that what the game’s going to be about?

“We’ll have a goatee off!”

He added: “I don’t really focus on other people’s beards. I’ve had mine for a long time and I just try to keep it the best I can.”

Benitez responded: “I don’t have too much beard, it was just a long time ago that I did it.

“I think his is much better than mine, so that’s fine. He can win that and I can win the game.”

But Burnley have a fortress to reinforce.

Dyche refutes the suggestion it has been weakened.

Of their four Premier League games at Turf Moor so far, they have lost only one.

It is away from home that they have fared better. In stark contrast to the club’s previous two Premier League seasons - when they won just once away, and very late on in both campaigns - 2017/18 has so far brought them wins against Chelsea and Everton, while points have been shared at Spurs and Liverpool.

The perception is that while Burnley have addressed one problem, they have been faced with another.

But, although they managed just one home win so far, alongside defeat to West Brom and draws with West Ham and Huddersfield - Dyche insists that is not the case.

“It’s not really not become a fortress,” he said. “People are implying the different kind of situation. We’ve only lost one at home, if that continues I’ll be happy. I think we’ll be pretty much a solid unit at home.”

Defender Stephen Ward concurs.

“I still think we’ve taken a few points at home,” said the Republic of Ireland left back.

“Maybe last year we probably looked a bit more on the front foot at home, but teams are now coming to Turf Moor and maybe showing us a little bit more respect.

“They are setting up differently and making us having to break them down a little bit more.

“It’s something that we need to work, find different ways of winning games.”

Ward and co will look to do that against Newcastle tonight, and make it a happy anniversary - and high five - for Dyche.