BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche insists there is no panic with his side winless and bottom of the table, but admitted that victory against fellow stragglers Brighton would be a big psychological boost.

Seagulls manager Graham Potter was likewise unruffled yesterday, insisting that tonight’s clash is not a desperate scrap between two struggling sides.

Burnley have picked up one point from their six matches so far, keeping just one clean sheet and scoring only three goals, while their opponents have won just once this term — against Newcastle on September 20.

But Dyche, who has managed Burnley in the top flight in six of the last seven seasons, is not overly concerned just yet.

“I never thought panic solves anything,” he said ahead of a trip to the south coast, with Brighton themselves just four points ahead in 16th place.

“Would I like to be up the league? Quite obviously. But there are only two things that can happen: you either go sideways and stay where you are, or you go upwards.

“I say ‘there’s the table, there’s the facts.’ I’ve never been one to overthink it at this stage of the season because that has never proved anything at this stage.

“The main focus for me is you want to get that first win, psychologically it is good for the group.”

Potter says it is too early in the campaign to start writing teams off and agreed that neither club will be panicking.

“I think both myself and Sean would say it would be great to win the game, that’s normal, because it’s the next one and with where the league table is at the moment,” he said.

“But at the same time we are seven or eight games in and there is a long way to go.

“From our perspective we always focus on the next game and do our best to try to win. They’ll be doing the same because they have some good players and they have won points in the Premier League before.

“I don’t think we look at the table in terms of how we approach the match. We look at the opposition we are playing, we look at ourselves and try to play well and do the things we want to do.

“That’s the challenge, not external factors such as the league table.”

“I see the quality Burnley have, I see what they do well. I have got huge respect for Sean, the job he has done at that club is amazing. You underestimate them and write them off at your peril,” he said.

Maupay back in business; Burnley get Mee boost

BRIGHTON striker Neal Maupay is set to return tonight after being left out for last week’s loss at Tottenham.

Graham Potter admitted there had been an “incident” after reports the Frenchman had become involved in a heated dispute with a colleague, although he did not reveal details.

Maupay could face Burnley captain Ben Mee, who is closing in on a return and could feature on the south coast.

The centre-back has not played since the end of June because of a thigh injury but featured in a training-ground match last week and is now injury-free.