Burnley 1-1 Brighton: Predictable game, predictable outcome
The most predictable game in English football ended once again in the most predictable outcome. Burnley 1-1 Brighton was the exact same result as when these sides met at the Amex earlier in the campaign and made it 10 draws in the past 16 matches between the two clubs.
Back in November, a series of superb saves from James Trafford earned the Clarets their point. Burnley could consider themselves somewhat fortunate their young goalkeeper had enjoyed what must rank as his best 90 minutes of the season.
This time around, it was the Albion who received a stroke of fortune with their equaliser coming from a wonderful comic own goal.
Had Trafford’s replacement in the Burnley goal, Arijanet Muric, not allowed a back pass from Sander Berge to go straight under his foot, Brighton would have headed home from Turf Moor with nothing to show for their efforts.
If you discount own goals, the Albion have now failed to score in seven of their past nine matches. Three wins in 13 Premier League outings since the turn of the year is almost as concerning as the lack of goals.
Two of those victories came against God-awful opposition when Brighton thrashed Crystal Palace 4-1 and Sheffield United 5-0.
The other relied on Nottingham Forest defender Andrew Omobamidele heading past his own goalkeeper to secure a 1-0 win over the Tricky Trees.
In light of that form and the six difficult fixtures Brighton have left to play, it is hard to see where the next victory is coming from.
Title chasing Manchester City and Champions League hopefuls Manchester United and Aston Villa all the visit the Amex, along with Chelsea.
Away from home, the Albion go to in-form Plucky Little Bournemouth and a Newcastle United outfit who reignited their bid for European football by thrashing Spurs 4-0 at St James’ Park in the Saturday lunchtime kick off.
Brighton’s own return to European football now looks out of the question. A top 10 finish must also be in doubt with Wolves and Bournemouth currently in 11th and 12th respectively just two points behind.
Little wonder the Albion are apparently now confident that Robert De Zerbi will not leave this summer when his exit had seen highly likely a couple of months ago; and little wonder De Zerbi has stopped the public criticisms which seemed to be paving the way for his departure.
Recent results and more importantly performances will have left doubts in the minds of Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Barcelona, Manchester United and the rest about whether De Zerbi is really ready for the biggest jobs in world football.
Burnley 1-1 Brighton started with the hosts on top. Pervis Estupinan clumsily challenged Wilson Odobert early on, getting a touch on the ball but also wiping out the Clarets forward in the box as he looked to be going clear on goal.
The circumstances were very similar to the penalty given against Tariq Lamptey when Arsenal won 3-0 at the Amex seven days ago.
On this occasion, however, Estupinan got away with it. The decision might have gone in Brighton’s favour, but this was all the proof needed that the European Super League Elite Six benefit from a different set of rules to the Albion, Burnley and the rest of the plebs.
You can guarantee if Estupinan makes the same risky challenge against City in Brighton’s next Premier League outing, the outcome will be a penalty.
That is making the assumption Estupinan is fit. He was an early withdrawal from Burnley 1-1 Brighton with an ankle problem, adding a 10th name to De Zerbi’s already lengthy injury list.
The Clarets’ best opportunity of the first half saw Jacob Bruun Larsen somehow miss from three yards out when putting a delightful cross from the lively Odobert wide of the post.
Brighton meanwhile came closest through Jakub Moder, whose curling free kick found a gap in the wall to force Muric into a sprawling save.
Burnley were causing problems down the flanks and squandered two more decent chances to go with that astonishing miss from Bruun Larsen.
David Datro Fofana could not get enough on a low Odobert cross, followed early in the second half by Fofana putting a diving header wide of the post.
Poor decision making from Joao Pedro saw a good opening for Brighton go to waste. The Brazilian forward should have pulled the trigger as he entered the box but instead decided to try and set a new Guinness World Record for most unnecessary turns in the space of 10 seconds.
Unsurprisingly, Pedro was tackled. The loose ball did at least go straight to Pascal Gross for an effort deflected wide.
It was a gift from Brighton that then enabled the Clarets to take the lead on 74 minutes. Carlos Baleba played a woefully under hit back pass which subsequently became a perfect through ball for Josh Brownhill to latch onto and beat Verbruggen.
That would probably have been enough to win Burnley the game without Muric’s moment of madness three minutes later. Lancashire sunshine had turned into dark clouds and rain, maybe given Muric an excuse as to how the ball slipped straight beneath his boot with no Brighton player near.
A point was probably fair but did little to help either side. The reaction of the Burnley players at full time told you the Clarets needed to win if their bid to avoid relegation is to be successful.
For Brighton, a draw meant the sense that this season is petering out into nothingness deepened. Is it already time to look ahead to 2024-25.
