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We fear no-one in the Championship, insists Burnley star Scott Arfield
SCOTT Arfield says there is no team in the Championship to be feared by Burnley, because their internal focus is so strong.
The Clarets face the league’s highest scorers when they host in-form Fulham tonight (7.45pm). The Cottagers arrive at Turf Moor having hit eight goals in their last two games, while their front two of Ross McCormack and Moussa Dembele have both scored seven apiece in the league this season.
But Arfield insists they are only concerned about themselves and extending their own five-game unbeaten run - stopping Fulham’s in the process - as they bid to go into another international break on a high.
“You’ve got to give each team the credit and the respect they deserve and what they’re due, but it comes down to us and we look at the dressing room and we think we can go and take the three points anywhere,” said the midfielder.
“Fulham’s top two of McCormack and Dembele have hit the ground running.
“I know McCormack from being at Leeds and in this division for many years.
“He’s a top player and their captain and makes them tick.
“Dembele up front has fantastic ability, you see him on the telly so often scoring goals. But we only care about ourselves in a selfish kind of way and we know what we possess.”
And Arfield says that mentality comes from the top, with manager Sean Dyche determined not to let his players get distracted by any outside influences and take each game on its merits.
“He’s instilled the belief and gives you freedom to play, and that togetherness and team spirit that takes you a long way,” he said.
“It’s a fantastic group that he’s put together and hopefully that takes us all the way too.
“The manager’s been the exact same since the day I’ve been here. You don’t take anything for granted; nothing owes you anything in football. It’s rubbed off on us and that’s our thinking.
“We know how hard it is to get out of this league, we’ve done it once.
“If you start taking games two or three weeks ahead you’re going to come unstuck.
“Every team in this division possesses something, it’s going to be tough for us, but the one game mentality is working for us.”
After winning four of their five October fixtures to sit third on goal difference, Arfield hopes November is just as productive, starting with Fulham tonight.
“We knew this was a massive month for us, the run of games we’ve had,” said the Scot.
“They’re games that you look at and think that you can take points from.
“Every game’s hard, you need to go into them and try to get the three points.
“We didn’t look any further than Huddersfield on Saturday and now it’s all about tonight.
“We know what they possess in the back four, across the middle and the two up top. It’s going to be hard for us but I’m confident we can do well.
“I don’t think we’ve really hit full throttle yet. To be sitting quite pretty towards the top of the table with so much more to come that stands us in good stead.”
SCOTT Arfield says there is no team in the Championship to be feared by Burnley, because their internal focus is so strong.
The Clarets face the league’s highest scorers when they host in-form Fulham tonight (7.45pm). The Cottagers arrive at Turf Moor having hit eight goals in their last two games, while their front two of Ross McCormack and Moussa Dembele have both scored seven apiece in the league this season.
But Arfield insists they are only concerned about themselves and extending their own five-game unbeaten run - stopping Fulham’s in the process - as they bid to go into another international break on a high.
“You’ve got to give each team the credit and the respect they deserve and what they’re due, but it comes down to us and we look at the dressing room and we think we can go and take the three points anywhere,” said the midfielder.
“Fulham’s top two of McCormack and Dembele have hit the ground running.
“I know McCormack from being at Leeds and in this division for many years.
“He’s a top player and their captain and makes them tick.
“Dembele up front has fantastic ability, you see him on the telly so often scoring goals. But we only care about ourselves in a selfish kind of way and we know what we possess.”
And Arfield says that mentality comes from the top, with manager Sean Dyche determined not to let his players get distracted by any outside influences and take each game on its merits.
“He’s instilled the belief and gives you freedom to play, and that togetherness and team spirit that takes you a long way,” he said.
“It’s a fantastic group that he’s put together and hopefully that takes us all the way too.
“The manager’s been the exact same since the day I’ve been here. You don’t take anything for granted; nothing owes you anything in football. It’s rubbed off on us and that’s our thinking.
“We know how hard it is to get out of this league, we’ve done it once.
“If you start taking games two or three weeks ahead you’re going to come unstuck.
“Every team in this division possesses something, it’s going to be tough for us, but the one game mentality is working for us.”
After winning four of their five October fixtures to sit third on goal difference, Arfield hopes November is just as productive, starting with Fulham tonight.
“We knew this was a massive month for us, the run of games we’ve had,” said the Scot.
“They’re games that you look at and think that you can take points from.
“Every game’s hard, you need to go into them and try to get the three points.
“We didn’t look any further than Huddersfield on Saturday and now it’s all about tonight.
“We know what they possess in the back four, across the middle and the two up top. It’s going to be hard for us but I’m confident we can do well.
“I don’t think we’ve really hit full throttle yet. To be sitting quite pretty towards the top of the table with so much more to come that stands us in good stead.”
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