Brighton 1 Burnley 1
Roberto de Zerbi’s side welcomed Burnley to Amex Stadium, slowly but surely seeing their treatment room start to empty out. This was a fixture that the visitors have fared well in, with The Seagulls winless in the last six games at home against The Clarets.
Burnley almost got off to the perfect start as Sander Berge broke through the middle with Brighton players backing off him. He spotted a pass to Gudmundsson wide in the box, who checked onto his left foot and went for the far corner, narrowly missing the upright.
The Seagulls then put some pressure on the visitors as Joao Pedro played the ball into Adingra. He laid the ball into the path of Pascal Gross who tried to continue his scoring form but the left boot of James Trafford was to deny him.
Adam Lallana then pressured The Clarets into a misplaced pass and Ferguson laid it off to Milner on the edge of the box. The veteran midfielder had a shot at goal but Trafford made a good save again. Brighton were starting to knock on the door.
Credit: @premierleague
Interestingly, James Milner is only four months younger than Burnley manager Vincent Kompany. You have to give credit where it is due to the Brighton player, still getting Premier League game time at 37-years-old.
De Zerbi’s side were giving the visitors no time on the ball whatsoever. It was working well as The Clarets misplaced passes were gifting possession back often. A cross whipped in from the right found the head of van Hecke but his effort missed the goal by inches.
Then as in any good novel, came the plot twist. Completely against the run of play, the visitors broke. Odobert picked the ball up on the edge of the box and only had one thing on his mind. His shot went straight in the top corner of the goal, giving Verbruggen no chance in the Brighton goal.
Just before the half-time whistle, Burnley had stunned the Amex Stadium. This is what Kompany wants to see from his side, the ability to stay solid at the back and counter-attacking clinically to punish their opponents.
As the second half started Odobert, who was replacing Koleosho in the side, was starting to cause problems for Brighton. He weaved his way into the box and got a shot off that forced a full-stretch save from Verbruggen. The Seagulls’ keeper was then able to block Rodriguez’ follow up with his outstretched leg while lying on the floor.
Mitoma started coming into the game for De Zerbi’s side, looking as dangerous as ever. As he shot from just inside the box, his effort went agonisingly close to the top corner of the goal. It was a warning for Vincent Kompany’s side.
Credit: @OfficialBHAFC
The Japanese winger then found himself in acres of space and as he charged into the box, played it across goal and Ferguson tried to flick it in but his effort went well wide. Had he left it, Adingra was in a much better position to get a shot off at goal.
Gross then crossed into the box, flicked on by Joao Pedro and Adingra volleyed an effort at goal but it was brilliantly blocked by Trafford in a Schmeichel-esque save. Brighton were starting to wonder whether this was not going to be their day.
Skipper Pascal Gross then showed his worth to the Seagulls as he dummied a cross with his left to check onto his right foot. He clipped a ball into the back post where Adingra headed into the far corner to draw Brighton level. It was no more than they had deserved on this second-half display.
Adingra looks like a real prospect for De Zerbi’s side and it is not just his hairstyle that resembles Sadio Mane. His prowess in the air and ability to just skip past opponents at the age of 21-years-old, makes him seem a real prospect for the future.
Burnley had the chance to steal all three points late on when substitute Nathan Redmond, threaded a pass through the hosts defence but Connor Roberts just could not get a touch on it as he slid towards the ball.
Brighton went straight down the other end and Gross clipped another ball in, Hinshelwood met it with a header but Jordan blocked it. As the ball dropped the Brighton youngster stuck his leg out to turn it towards goal but Trafford made another good save.
As the visitors tried to hold on for a point, Adingra crossed to the back post where Mitoma met it on the half-volley. He hit his shot into the ground and somehow, Trafford got his fingertips to it to turn it over the crossbar.
The two sides shared the points but Vincent Kompany most definitely had James Trafford to thank for the draw. Away to a side like Brighton, this must have definitely felt like a point gained for Burnley. Roberto De Zerbi will be disappointed with his side failing to take their chances over the course of the game.
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