Sean Dyche brings his Burnley team to Cardiff City Stadium for a Premier League clash on Sunday, but he could easily have been in the home dug-out.
Former defender Dyche, who was a Nottingham Forest youth player when Brian Clough was in charge at the City Ground, was offered the chance to be Bluebirds’ assistant manager seven years ago.
Dyche was Watford’s number two when Malky Mackay was manager at Vicarage Road and it was thought the pair could stay together in South Wales.
The Hornets, though, offered Dyche the opportunity to be their new manager and he took charge before switching to Burnley in 2012.
“Malky wanted me to go with him to Cardiff and then Watford’s owner Laurence Bassini contacted me and asked: “Look, why do you want to go? Why don’t you at least talk to us?
“We had a conversation with the board. They had to consider other people and then they decided I was the right man.
“That was great news and gave me a chance and a platform to experience management.”
Dyche steered his Burnley team seventh place in the top tier last season, big progress from 16th a year earlier. He also showed that relegation from the top flight need not be a disaster.
Burnley were promoted to the Premier in 2013-14, the season in which Cardiff went down, and were then went straight back up and have made major strides over the last couple of years.
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“Sean doesn’t worry about anyone else,” says City manager Neil Warnock. “He has his group and they are together. That’s the only thing English managers can do.
“I don’t think any English manager can get an opportunity at the top level because owners are looking for a leading foreign manager to come in. Sean is as good as it gets in English managers and he does it the hard way.
“He took a team up, had to change and then fight to stay up. Unfortunately he couldn’t stay up the first time, but was given the chance to build again and take them back.
“They have never looked back. The infrastructure gained from that second promotion, with the training ground and everything, does show us in Cardiff what is possible over the next few years.”
Former Bluebirds goalkeeper Tom Heaton is in Burnley’s squad, but he may miss out behind former Manchester City goalie Joe Hart.
“From Burnley’s point of view they will be looking at this as a good chance to earn three points,” said Warnock. “You can understand that.
“The fixture list hasn’t been too kind to us. In the first 10 games we play the top seven from last season. That is a bit cruel on us, but we have to hang in there.
“Any game against a team that isn’t in the top six is winnable in this league. Burnley are in that category. We know Sean has a really strong work ethic and we have to be ready for what’s coming and try to cause them some problems.”
The Bluebirds are still searching for their first win and have to bounce back from their five-goal mauling against Manchester City last time out with Warnock saying: “It has been good in training, but they are bound to be disappointed just as I was.
“You don’t like to lose so many goals. We appreciate the quality we were playing against and some of their play was unbelievable.
“Manchester City scored quick goals, grew in confidence and that made it even harder for us. That’s why I was pleased we didn’t fold in the second half.
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“I was disappointed in Bruno (Manga) for throwing away that last goal because that did make it look worse than it was.
“Our match against Burnley isn’t a must-win, but it is a game that is really important to us. With the two away games at Tottenham and Liverpool coming up, along with only one home game in between against Fulham, it is a difficult period.
“That’s why you can’t brush under the carpet the importance of this game.
“Earning that first win is always important. I was so disappointed we didn’t take our chances early on in other games when we had them, but you have to stop feeling sorry for yourselves and get on with it.
“We are a little thin on options. You aren’t aware of it when you come in. The under-23s are important and a lot of the big clubs have got three or four to call on on top of their 25, whereas tomorrow we will only have 19 to pick from. It is a little bit different for us, but I can’t fault the lads.
“They have to eliminate the mistakes and try to make a game of it for longer periods.
“Burnley have been consistent in the way they play and you know what you are going to get with Sean. He has a way of playing and it has been successful.
“For me he was the manager of the year last season to finish seventh and take Burnley into Europe. They are tried and tested professionals at this level and we will have to be up for it to try to cause them some other problems.”
City will be without Lee Peltier, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Aaron Gunnarsson and goalkeeper Alex Smithies because of injuries.
Defender Peltier doesn’t need an operation, but Warnock said: “He is still going to be out for two or three months. His shoulder popped out and went back in. He’s in good spirits.
“Mendez-Laing is the same. He has the brace off now and he’s in better spirits.
“Gunnarsson trained with us this week and looked well. He won’t be anywhere near for this week. He has shown me what we’ve missed at times as well.
“He had to build it back up and has had a couple of knocks. We thought he would be ready for the Chelsea game, but then picked up another knock in training.
“It was on the same area and we’ve had to take him back a little bit to help him move forward.”
Warnock could well recall Sol Bamba in defence, while Greg Cunningham is likely to start again after the manager described him as ‘our best player by a mile’ after the Manchester City match.
Cardiff City, possible: Etheridge; Richards or Bamba, Manga, Morrison (capt), Cunningham; Arter, Ralls, Camarasa; Decordova-Reid, Hoilett, Ward.
