BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche has reiterated his belief that Middlesbrough have “spent heavily” to take the lead in the Championship promotion race, even if he does think it was invested correctly.

Dyche’s comments caused a stir on Teesside earlier in the season when he claimed there was greater pressure on them to go up having brought in the likes of Stewart Downing and David Nugent.

They have since added Jordan Rhodes and Gaston Ramirez in significant deals, albeit one was a £9m transfer and the latter only a loan from Southampton until the end of the campaign.

Burnley, who themselves have spent millions in a bid to return to the Premier League, are looking to topple Middlesbrough from top spot tonight at Turf Moor.

Clarets manager Dyche said: “They’re a good side. They’ve spent heavily and they’ve spent wisely. A lot was made of my words early season, I don’t know why for the life of me because it’s a fact. They’ve spent both heavily and wisely. I make that clear, wisely.

“When I spoke to the manager (Aitor Karanka) when we played them there he made a real strong case of how he reflected on last season and what they needed to do going forward and the chairman (Steve Gibson) backed him and they’ve delivered a really good season up to now.

“They’ll be trying to take the game on, we certainly try to take the game on home and away. We go to win every time we play. Bring it on, we’re ready. We can’t wait for the whistle to blow.”

Andre Gray has scored 22 goals since his £9m switch from Brentford last summer and that has been a major factor in Burnley’s rise into an automatic promotion spot.

The former Brentford striker was one of a number of forwards on Middlesbrough’s radar last summer along with Nugent and Rhodes – and now Karanka must hope his defence will keep him quiet.

Dyche said: “It can be a surprise in that it’s only his second season playing at this level. He’s done fantastically well.

“I think he’s still learning and still improving. But to be recognised for the goals he’s got has been fantastic and he deserves that recognition.

“He was scoring straight away as soon as he got here. A lot was made of the fee we paid for him but he’s handled that very well, he’s seen through that and he just keeps scoring goals.”