New Burnley FC manager Dyche ‘high intensity’ says Ben Mee

DEFENDER Ben Mee feels new boss Sean Dyche has given the players more intensity to their play.

The Clarets beat Wolves 2-0 in Dyche’s first game at the helm on Saturday - registering only a third clean sheet of the season, while retaining an attacking threat.

Mee was restored to the side after missing the 4-0 defeat at Cardiff through suspension, and he admits the new man has made a very good impression: “It’s been really good. He’s come in, set down a marker and got us all going in training.

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“It’s been high intensity and we’re working really hard. That’s what he wants us to be.

“We’ve still been playing the football but it’s just that little bit of intensity and short, sharp stuff that he’s brought into us.

“There’s a difference. Obviously there is with all managers. He’s a bit more vocal I guess in the way he does it.

“We’ll get to know him as time goes on but it’s been a good week and a nice way to finish it off. We want to go out and have another good week this week.”

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Dyche has spoken already of bringing more consistency to the side, and Mee feels they are getting there: “We’ve won three out of four now.

“Away at Cardiff is always a tough place to go, but we think we’re on a decent run and we want to keep it going and make this place a fortress and hopefully get a few more clean sheets as well while we’re at it.

“On Saturday we defended really well.

“We hope we can get another one against Leeds.”

The highest scoring side in the Championship have also conceded the most, but Mee believes the Clarets don’t have to compromise their attacking tendencies: “I don’t think so, it’s just more working hard on the basics really.

“It’s not just the defence that have to defend, it’s the whole team and we’ve been working on that.

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“The gaffer’s brought his ideas in and on Saturday we put them into practice and got the clean sheet.”

Mee is just pleased to be back playing regular football after starting the campaign out of the side, working his way back into the picture, then picking up a fifth booking to rule him out at Cardiff.

Dyche took a watching brief in South Wales before being officially appointed, and Mee said: “I was a bit worried about that. I wasn’t actually aware I was on four bookings at the time.

“It was my own fault.

“The manager was watching so I was bit disappointed to miss it, but he played me which I’m delighted with.

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“I was bit unsure during the week but I was really happy he put me in the side.”

He picked up a sixth booking of the season against Wolves, and the former Manchester City man knows he has to be careful: “They’re just silly little ones.

“Every tackle I seem to make it’s a yellow card. It’s just one of those things.”

While he is becoming familiar to referees, wingers will also be taking note of his performances of late, impressing against Wilfried Zaha, Tom Ince, Albert Adomah and Jermaine Pennant, and he smiled: “There have been some good wingers in this league that I’ve played against so far.

“I enjoy pitting my wits against them and trying to stop them.

“It’s going well for me so far so hopefully I can continue doing that.”