“V-INGS can only get better!” The prolific Sam Vokes/Danny Ings partnership has proved a headline writer’s dream.

And it was arguably at Millwall last season that the potential of that dream double act was first recognised.

While then top scorer Charlie Austin was sidelined for a month with a hamstring injury, Vokes and Ings were busy laying the foundations for a formidable front pairing, as both scored in a 2-0 win.

Manager Sean Dyche believes there is more to it than that first glimpse. Plenty of groundwork has been put in since that game at The Den in January when both were on the scoresheet for the first time.

But fans will recognise this as the moment when two creative forces clicked.

“They did deliver a good performance last year down there the two of them. It was a good team performance, but certainly the two of them performed well,” said the Burnley boss.

“They both had patches last year where I thought they played really well and the pre-season has helped that link become clearer, not only in the way they’re playing but the instinct to play together “Charlie was playing a lot so I don’t think you can link it too heavily back to that. There have always been good signs about different relationships in the team.

“Obviously it just builds the more it happens and the more you see them deliver performances.”

Tuesday night’s Capital One Cup exit at the hands of West Ham United was only the fourth game in all competitions that neither Vokes or top scorer Ings have been among the goals.

It was only the second defeat that the Clarets have suffered in 17 games this season.

Their last, away to Brighton, came in controversial circumstances after Tom Heaton was harshly sent off.

There was similar debate after the Hammers defeat, after Jason Shackell was on the wrong end of a highly contentious penalty award.

Burnley bounced back following their AMEX loss with an 11-game unbeaten run, which included 10 wins. And Dyche is hopeful of a repeat response after being pleased with his players’ performance against Premier League opposition in midweek.

“There was no disappointment,” said boss Dyche.

“The game changed on what I felt was a poor decision.

“Obviously the outcome wasn’t what we wanted, in terms of not winning, because we felt we could and I thought we delivered a performance good enough to win to be honest,” said the Burnley boss.

“We out-statted them but as we all know that doesn’t win you a game, but it shows good signs yet again about the mentality of the group and how hard they’re prepared to go to win a football match.

“A decision went against us but we went back on the front foot and we created chances again, we got right after West Ham and went to win it.

“That’s a really big thing we’ve been working on with the group through pre-season and leading into the season that no matter whatever happens in the game we react to it and respond to it and we go hard to win.

“There were good signs again of that the other night.”

And Dyche praised the Clarets fans for their part in the occasion.

“The crowd were terrific. I asked if their support would be there if things weren’t going our way. I think they valued that performance but it still needs good voice and I thought they were in good voice.

“They got behind the team in order to try to turn the tie around,” the Clarets boss continued.

“The outcome wasn’t what we wanted but sometimes there’s a right way for the game to go against you.

“I thought we went about it in an attacking and forthright manner in order to win.

“If the outcome doesn’t go your way that’s the manner you want to do it, trying to win.”