Graham Potter has hailed the 'wonderful job' manager Sean Dyche has done at Burnley.
The Clarets, who visit the Amex on Friday, are now in their fifth consecutive campaign in the Premier League, with Dyche celebrating his eighth year in charge at Turf Moor last week.
Potter said, “He has done a wonderful job from where they were to where they are now. He is too easily criticised for the wrong things, people don’t look at the things they have done really well.
“Football isn’t that complicated, it’s about scoring one more goal than the other team and they have done that well. They mix the game up – they can defend high or deep, they can go direct, but they have got good players who can pass it as well.
“I just see a top team with a top manager. Like all of us they’re going through a bit of pain at the moment, but they have got the resilience and attributes to come through that.”
Potter is pleased with the reaction shown by Maty Ryan and Aaron Connolly in the build-up to tomorrow's game after they were left out of the team to play Tottenham last Sunday.
“Maty has responded really well. He’s a professional and he wants to play and he will be disappointed he didn’t. But I have got 28 players that have the same thoughts. On the one hand we have to think about Mat, but on the other we have to think about Robert Sanchez.
“In terms of Robert, we’ve got a player from our academy that has made their Premier League debut which is something to be proud of.
“It’s always the case when there’s competition for places. You make decisions with the best intentions and then you’re looking for everyone to react.
“I must say, the professionalism and togetherness of the group is really strong and everybody tries to make my job difficult by playing well.
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“Aaron is learning to be in the Premier League and he has ups and downs as you’d expect from a young player. We like him and believe in him a lot.
“Sometimes it’s right for others to take the spot instead of him, but sometimes he will be involved. There’s no problems with Aaron. He wants to play and do his best for us.”