10 long years since Brighton last beat Burnley at the Amex

David Cameron was prime minister. Matt Smith was Doctor Who. Brexit was not even a word. Alfie and Kat were landlord and landlady of the Queen Vic. And Jack Hinshelwood was eight years old the last time Brighton beat Burnley at the Amex.

It was August 2013 and goals from Andrew Crofts and Leonardo Ulloa secured Oscar Garcia his first home win as Albion manager.

The Clarets had goalkeeper Tom Heaton sent off. Young Kieran Trippier was their right back. An even younger Solly March made only his second ever Brighton appearance from the bench.

Through the intervening decade, home games against Burnley have tended to be grim. Skip the next eight paragraphs if you do not want reminding.

Had Joey Barton been sent off for stamping on Beram Kayal and Michael Keane not scored an injury time equaliser in April 2016, the Albion would have picked up two extra points and secured automatic promotion to the Premier League rather than suffering the heartbreak of playoff semi final defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.

In the 2018-19 season, Heaton gave one of the best ever goalkeeping performances against Brighton as Burnley left the Amex with a 3-1 victory.

To rub salt into the wounds, all the Clarets goals that day came from ex-Seagulls. Ashley Barnes converted a 74th minute penalty after Chris Wood had banged in a brace via goals in either half.

Brighton again battered Burnley early in the 2019-20 campaign without managing to turn their dominance into goals.

That was a sign of what was to come for much of the Glow Up Graham Potter Era, the Albion having to settle for a 1-1 draw after Jeff Hendrick this time provided a 90th minute equaliser.

I have had to look up what happened in the lockdown season, having no recollection of playing Burnley at the Amex. Turns out it was a 0-0 Friday night draw on November 6th 2020.

In contrast, I can sadly recall every gory detail of the Clarets’ next and most recent visit to the Amex. February 2022. The rain poured and Burnley arrived in Sussex rock bottom of the table with only one win to their name all season.

By the 70th minute mark, Sean Dyche’s side led 3-0. The final whistle blew with the home stands virtually empty after what must rank as the worst result and performance since the Amex opened. Another nice history lesson for Glow Up Graham.

This also happened to be the day the WAB Team produced the infamous Amex Stadium wine tasting article. Seven glasses of wine, one per concourse. The football was so bad as to stand out even through the blur of so much A Day at the Vineyards.

Which brings us nicely onto this latest instalment of Brighton against Burnley. The Albion are a different beast these days under Roberto De Zerbi, but what will that count for when it comes to facing one of their ultimate bogey sides?

The good news for the Seagulls is that there finally appears to be some light at the end of the unavailable players tunnel.

Kaoru Mitoma and Joao Pedro both started in the 2-1 win over Brentford having not been deemed fit enough for Chelsea away last Sunday.

Lewis Dunk and Mahmoud Dahoud return from suspension. And although the visit of the Clarets will come too soon for Danny Welbeck, Dat Guy was pictured back in the training earlier in the week.

Whilst there has been plenty of talk over the Albion’s sketchy Premier League form – a seven game winless run and just two victories in nine going back to the end of September – less has been spoken about how Brighton have not really dropped down the table.

Despite the worst sequence of results of the De Zerbi Era, the Seagulls could soar into fifth spot with victory over Burnley.

To be riding so high having suffered so many injuries and playing twice a week through the autumn is some achievement from De Zerbi and his players.

What they will face on this occasion is a Burnley side different to the Clarets of old. Under Dyche, Burnley often played attritional football which no Albion manager or team could find a way to overcome at the Amex.

Dyche was Brighton’s kryptonite – and remains so now he is in charge at Everton. Don’t worry, we won’t mention that 5-1 defeat to the Toffees back in May. Eight paragraphs reliving Clarets games at the Amex is enough depressing content for one match preview.

This will be the first time Brighton have faced Burnley with Vincent Kompany at the helm. The former Manchester City captain received a lot of praise last season for the Pep Guardiola-inspired style of play he introduced almost overnight at Turf Moor last season, which blew away the rest of the Championship as the Clarets ended up runaway title winners.

Burnley though have found it hard to replicate that success in the Premier League. They have won two games all season and both of those came against the clubs they finished above in the second tier in 2022-23.

A 2-1 win at Luton Town and a 5-0 success over Sheffield United last week provide their only points alongside a draw at Nottingham Forest.

The gulf between Brighton and Burnley has therefore never been bigger. On paper, this is the Albion’s best chance of ending their home hoodoo against the Clarets since this Crofts and Ulloa goals 10 years and three months ago.

Think we can all see what happens next, can’t we?