Cash is king - unless you rule like Chris Wilder and Sean Dyche do at Sheffield United and Burnley

The game is littered with folk who can burn through money quicker than it takes Chris Wilder to sink a Peroni after beating Tottenham Hotspur and players who cost a king’s ransom but who deliver pounds, shillings and pence. So is it strictly true that Sheffield United and Burnley, who drew 1-1 at Turf Moor, are two clubs who punch above their weight?

In financial terms, the answer is yes. Neither Wilder nor Sean Dyche have access to the same type of funding as others inside the Premier League’s top 10.

But while anyone can spend, only the intelligent can spend wisely. And patrolling the technical area in front of The Bob Lord Stand were two managers who, in terms of nous and savvy, are comfortably in the black.

Moments before kick-off, an audio clip of Dyche outlining his sporting principles boomed out from the stadium’s public address system - which had still been cranked up to eleven even though there was only a smattering of people inside.

“People talk about old fashioned values,” he said, in those immediately recognisable gruff tones. “But those values, well, they’ve actually been more modern.” Wilder, who was striding purposefully across the pitch when the tape started playing, could be seen nodding his head in agreement. In fact, so similar are their outlooks, he probably wished he’d scripted them himself.

Despite the obvious differences in terms of their tactical approach, Wilder and Dyche both subscribe to the theory that the team always, absolutely always, must come first. Players are selected and signed on their ability to improve the group as a whole rather than attract lucrative sponsorship deals or sell replica shirts. And above all else, they need to be willing to roll up their sleeves and work.

“I was delighted to get something out of it,” Wilder said, after John Egan’s second-half effort cancelled out James Tarkowski’s opener for Burnley. “I thought we looked a little bit leggy at times, which perhaps is understandable, and so bits of our usual quality wasn’t there.

“But we kept on going, kept on fighting and in the end took something home with us. So well done to the boys.”

Wilder had made no secret of his admiration for Dyche and the manner in which Burnley have built their infrastructure during his eight years in charge. Indeed, speaking on the eve of this fixture, he described the hosts as the perfect template for United to follow as they look to establish themselves in the top-flight after being promoted last term.

So deep is the respect which exists between the two men, it was no surprise to see them locked deep in conversation throughout the warm-ups. But when the action got underway, they barely acknowledged one another. Wilder and Dyche might be friends, They are also fierce competitors.

“I thought it was a tight game but of course you get greedy,” Dyche said later, before tearing a page out of Wilder’s playbook when it comes to the question of European qualification. “Everyone keeps talking to me about that - qualifying -but that was never the aim at the start of the season. The aim was, first to stay in the division and then second, finish as high up it as possible.”

“The message from me is simply for us to be competitive in the remaining outings and then see where that takes us,” he added, as Burnley ended the afternoon in ninth.

United had been creative and clinical during Thursday’s win over Spurs so, with Jack O’Connell named on the bench following injury, it was no surprise to see Wilder select an unchanged starting eleven in the hope of inspiring an equally effective performance. It was a ploy which worked in part, with United finding themselves trailing at the interval only because they failed to convert any of the numerous openings forged against one of the best defences in the competition. Had Oli McBurnue’s first minute shot not been scrambled away by Nick Pope or Jack Robinson’s foot stayed on the right side of the line when he launched a Howitzer of a throw-in towards Sander Berge, who tapped home at the far post, then the poor piece of marking which allowed Tarkowski to slide home following Dwight McNeil’s set piece would have been a minor irritation rather than the defining moment of the half.

“To come away with a result, from a losing position is always pleasing,” Wilder acknowledged. “But, to be honest, I was a little bit disappointed that we found ourselves chasing it because we shouldn’t really have been behind. We should have been up in the game.”

With Pope and Dean Henderson both staking claims to become England’s number one goalkeeper at next summer’s European Championships, all eyes were on how they performed at either ends of a playing surface exposed to a brisk Pennine breeze. It was to United’s credit that Henderson, on loan from Manchester United, enjoyed precious little opportunity to showcase his talents throughout the course of this contest, The same, however, could not be said of Pope who thwarted McBurnie with his legs almost straight from kick-off and later, after flapping at Robinson’s foul throw, denying Enda Stevens at the near post.

Henderson was powerless to prevent Tarkowski sliding home from close range when Jay Rodriguez flicked on McNeil’s delivery just before the break. But he excelled himself with only minutes remaining when, after Egan’s emphatic volley, he tipped an Erik Pieters shot around the post as United’s admirable determination to keep on forcing the issue presented Burnley with an opening.

“We were positive, we made positive changes and we had to open up a bit,” Wilder said, after seeing United board the coach back to South Yorkshire in eighth - four points behind sixth-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers, who travel to Bramall Lane on Wednesday. “We were pleased with the attitude, even though there were some tired legs out there I felt after Spurs. “It’s all about recovery now, and getting ready for the next one.”

Wth United continuing to probe and enjoying the better of the possession without applying serious pressure on Burnley, Wilder began tweaking with United’s personnel and shape. O’Connell was introduced, making his first appearance since competition resumed last month, alongside captain Billy Sharp. Lys Mousset was thrust into action shortly after. But it was Egan, scoring the first Premier Premier League goal of his career, who finally prised apart a rearguard which had entered the match searching for its third successive clean sheet when he pounced on Sharp’s flick following a short corner routine.

“Goals from centre-halves is something we should really be getting more of,” Wilder said, praising Ben Osborn’s delivery. “John gets himself into some great positions, in games and in training. So although he did brilliant there, I think he’ll be the first to admit it shouldn’t have taken him until July the whatever it is to get his name on the scoresheet.”

Burnley: Pope, Taylor, Tarlowski, Brownhill, McNeil, Westwood, Rodriguez, Pieters (Gudmundsson 95), Bardsley, Vydra (Wood 65), Long. Not used: Peacock-Farrell, Brady, Thompson, Dunne, Thomas, Benson, Goodridge.

Sheffield United: Henderson, Baldock, Stevens, Basham (Rodwell 75), Egan, Robinson (O’Connell 54), Norwood (Sharp 54), Osborn, Berge, McGoldrick, McBurnie (Mousset 66). Not used: Moore, Jagielka, K Freeman, Zivkovic.

Referee: Peter Bankes (Merseyside).