SEAN Dyche handed the credit to his players after seeing a change in shape come up trumps in the draw at Aston Villa.

With his side 1-0 down at the break, the Burnley boss introduced Jay Rodriguez in place of the injured Jack Cork.

That saw Dyche’s usual 4-4-2 pushed to one side with Rodriguez and Ashley Barnes operating either side of Chris Wood in a three-man attack.

Dwight McNeil and Jeff Hendrick, wide players in the opening 45 minutes, moved more central, with Ashley Westwood at the base of the midfield.

It was a system that has only been seen briefly in recent weeks and months but one that left many pondering whether it may be the best way forward for the Clarets, who host Everton at Turf Moor on Saturday.

"It calmed the game down,” said Dyche.

“I don't want to be too big time about it because the players deliver it.

“We haven't done loads on it because I have let it naturally unfold but we did it in pre-season and we did it at Brighton.

“We know Jay can play off one side and we know that Barnesy can do it, he played a lot of football coming off the left for Brighton.

“We know it is there and we can use it when we need it. We know Dwight can come inside and Jeff certainly can. Westy or Corky can play in the deeper role.

“We started playing, probing and calming the game down with the ball while still trying to affect things. The players deserve credit.”

Rodriguez scored the first of two equalisers in the second half, Chris Wood also on target in the 2-2 draw.

The returning hero will now be pushing for a first Premier League start of the campaign having featured off the bench in all seven games so far.

Rodriguez is one of many Dyche is striving to keep happy and motivated having increased the depth of his squad.

“We are trying to keep everyone alive and everyone involved,” the Clarets boss said.

“There is only so many you can put on the team sheet, we want them to know that they are all part of it.

“The competitive element this season is as close as it has ever been.

“I don't mean it is the best group, it is the best competitive group where the margins are so tight for who is playing and who's not.

“I have told them they could come from not even in the squad straight into the team, that is how close it is.”