Brighton & Hove Albion 0 Burnley 0
From the moment someone played the wrong audio and the Seagulls walked out to screeching feedback instead of Sussex by the Sea – you knew it wasn’t going to be their day
Albion were all over Burnley like a cheap suit for large parts of game but were let down by the quality of play in the final third.
From a Gross corner Lewis Dunk saw his header cleared off the line by the hand of Pope or perhaps the head of Phil Bardsley
With Bruno recalled and Pascal Gross looking like he was back to his attacking best, the Seagulls gave the Burnley defence a torrid time in the first half.
A superb breakaway move nearly saw Albion take the lead on 25 minutes, with Dale Stephens, Bruno and Gross involved,the ball fell to Anthony Knockaert who from close range smacked his effort square against Nick Pope’s right hand post
Maty Ryan has to be alert as Scott Arfield and Chris Wood both had chances
Then the focal point of the half, if not the entire match, another soft penalty as James Tarkowski and Murray tussled in the penalty area, referee Chris Kavanagh pointed to the spot.
It all appeared a bit hurried as Murray lofted the ball well over the bar. Although some fancied he slipped as he was about to strike the ball.
Burnley rallied and almost had a chance to rub salt in the wound
Just before half time Gaetan Bong picked up a loose ball, his scuffed shot fell to Shane Duffy who effort from 12 yards was well saved by Pope
Early in the second half the commanding Dunk released Knockaert, his deflected shot just eluded a stretching Murray at the far post.
Burnley has their tails up now and Ryan had to be alert as Arfield had another chance and Stephens cleared from inside the six yard box from Tarkowski
Albion were beginning to lose their foothold on the match, former Albion loaner Chris Wood went clean through but Ryan made a superb block. Then another former Albion striker in Ashley Barnes came on for Wood, within minutes Barnes was booked for bundling Ryan and the ball into the net.
Izzy Brown and Jose Izquierdo came on for Albion and tried their best to link up and get Albion going again.
Near the end Duffy made a fantastic block tackle just as Barnes was going to pull the trigger from close range , then the centre half who escaped a driving ban last week, was booked for deliberate handball and will miss the visit of Watford, who Albion take on at the Amex next Saturday (23 December)
Let’s hope the Seagulls find some festive cheer or failing that as Christmas songsters Slade once said ‘give us a goal’
