Monday 2 May 2016 09:20, UK
Burnley manager Sean Dyche is relishing the battle for promotion and has revealed he will not be distracted by their rivals' results.
The Clarets are locked in a three-way tussle to seal an automatic return to the Premier League but can secure promotion on Monday if they beat QPR and Brighton fail to beat Derby during a Sky Sports double-header.
But, speaking on the FL72 Podcast, Dyche claimed one of the tightest promotions races in recent seasons was the driving force behind his side's recent form rather than a hindrance.
"It's really good," he said. "We've earned the right to be where we are.
"We are working very hard at our game to make sure we deliver the performances to get us results. But we are certainly enjoying the challenge and have been all season."
QPR head to Turf Moor on Monday looking to derail Burnley's hopes of an immediate return to England's top-flight.
Not for the first time this season, the Clarets find themselves playing after their promotion rivals, with Boro travelling to Birmingham on Friday and Brighton hosting derby on Monday afternoon.
Burnley could find themselves as low as third by the time they entertain Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's side, but, having played catch-up for the majority of the season, Dyche was adamant his side's approach would remain unchanged.
"We've made a good show of looking after ourselves and not really overthinking everyone else," he added. "That has been an important factor of what we've so far and we can continue to do so.
"I explain to the team all the time with clarity what we need to focus on and that's the next performance so it's for other people to debate the ins and outs.
"It's been slightly different for us because we've come from quite a considerable distance behind - on Boxing Day we were eight points and a game in hand behind the teams above us.
"We've come a long way over those games to be where we are and the others have been setting the pace most of the season.
"Whatever the thoughts on the top of the table, and the points situation, are we just want to get the points that are needed and let everyone else worry about themselves.
"Our focus is on us performing and we've shown great signs of that, whether that be when we played first or last we've kept our eye on what we need to do and delivered the performances that have allowed us to do what we are doing. That is the focus."
