ON THE approach to Huddersfield Town’s John Smith’s Stadium is a sign which reads: Nearly There.

When it comes to a return to the Premier League, so are Burnley.

Manager Sean Dyche and his players would never say as much. But the Clarets are doing their talking on the pitch.

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It is not always pretty, but it is pretty effective. Derby wins over Bolton and Blackburn Rovers proved that, and on Saturday Burnley again did what they had to against the Terriers to get the result they needed.

A run of 14 games unbeaten, the last six of which are all wins, have catapulted the Clarets to the brink of another promotion.

The Clarets are now odds-on favourites to go one better than 2013/14 by going back to the Premier League as champions, and few would back against them.

But ask anyone inside the Clarets camp if the title is theirs to lose and you will be met with the same response, which is quite simply “no”.

For they have all bought into manager Sean Dyche’s “one game at a time” mantra; an approach that served them well two seasons ago and is having the right affect again.

Having opened up a seven-point gap at the summit ahead of second-placed Middlesbrough’s game at Charlton Athletic yesterday – and hearing about Derby’s capitulation at Rotherham, while Brighton had a blank weekend – it might have been tempting to get a bit carried away.

However, in conversation with Dyche and goalscorers Ben Mee and Stephen Ward there was not a hint of euphoria – just a clear message they were happy with the win but would be ready for the next game and would not look beyond that.

Their measured approach off the pitch is mirrored on it.

Burnley are aware of the opposition, but concentrate on their own strengths, which include a solid 4-4-2 shape – whether they are in or out of possession – clinical finishing (they are top scorers in the league) and a well-drilled defence, all of which are borne from an intense work-rate.

“The energy of the side is undoubted. We’ve been strong through every season since I’ve been at the club,” said manager Dyche.

“We are showing signs that we are strong again, we will physically go as hard as we need to go.

“The main thing for me was the control in the second half, particularly, because we never really looked in trouble, we could have hurt them on the counter, as the game wore on we kept the ball better and better on a very tricky surface.", and they are all good signs of what we are about.”

Burnley played Huddersfield at their own pressing game and it paid off, with Dyche adding: “I thought the first half in particular was a real strong performance. We were tactically very strong and affected their game while playing our own. I was very pleased with that.

“In the second half it was a good performance in a different way really, managing the game out well." and managing the result out well Such stoicism is hardly a headline writer’s dream, but it is proving to be the right formula as Burnley look to complete another dream season.

They endured a sloppy start against David Wagner’s determined Huddersfield, but having dropped only two points from winning positions this season they did not look back after benefitting from two quickfire corners.

The first was headed over the bar on the line by Dean Whitehead, but the follow-up flag kick was more productive. The fit-again David Jones delivered to the far right post, where Michael Keane headed down and Stephen Ward hooked in for his second goal of the season. and first in the Championship for Burnley The second followed on the half-hour thanks to some brilliant play by Andre Gray.

Holding the ball up on the right touchline the striker looked to have been forced into a dead end by Martin Cranie. But the striker nutmegged the defender to supply a pass for George Boyd to run on to and cross for Sam Vokesto get between two defenders and who side-footed past Jed Steer at the near post for his 13th of the season. and third in a week on the back of Tuesday night’s double at Fulham.

The Clarets were now comfortable and should have added to their advantage.

It was Huddersfield who scored next, though, against the run of play.

Joe Lolley picked the ball up 25 yards out and got past former Terriers midfielder Scott Arfield before unleashing a shot that gave Tom Heaton little chance in the 44th minute.

With half-time looming it was a bad time to concede, particularly after surrendering a 1-0 lead at Fulham and needing to come back from 2-1 down to win just a few days beforehand.

The response was swift though. Another Jones corner was swung into the near right post, where Mee attacked it bravely and headed past Steer in stoppage time.

With a two-goal cushion restored the second half requirements were to fend off Huddersfield’s fightback, backed by a packed and vocal away end.

Sean Scannell failed to gamble on Tommy Smith’s low cross into the box and was blasted by the home fans for passing up what would have been a good chance.

At the other end Gray pulled a shot wide after Vokes clipped Matt Lowton's cross.

A double change gave the Terriers fresh impetus before the hour, and left back Jason Davidson rattled the woodwork with a left-footed shot. fter receiving substitute Jamie Paterson’s pinpoint cross.

Then trying to play the ball out of defence Mee was robbed by Nahki Wells in dangerous territory, but Ward blocked the shot on the edge of the box.

Changes punctuated the remainder of the half, but there was no change in Burnley’s attitude or to the scoreline, as they moved another step closer to promotion.