GOLD TRAFFORD
Star keeper James is on point for Kompany
TOP DISPLAY TO SAVE DAY
BURNLEY boss Vincent Kompany said his men will need more outstanding individual performances to survive in the top flight after keeper James Trafford put in a superb display in his team’s draw at the Amex Stadium.
The visitors went ahead through Wilson Odobert’s brilliant strike that nicked off James Milner and flew over goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.
By then Trafford had already saved well from Milner and Pascal Gross.
Burnley were finally undone when Simon Adingra nodded in a Gross cross but Trafford saved his best for last, his superb reflexes beating away Jack Hinshelwood’s header in stoppage time before fingertipping Kaoru Mitoma’s stinging volley over the bar.
“The game demanded it,” said Kompany. “You don’t get a result at these places without moments like this.
“We’re lucky to have two very good keepers and there is a tremendous belief this club is going the right way.”
Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi said: “We are not a top team yet, because a top team wins today. Maybe the coach of Brighton is not a top, top coach yet.”
JAMES TRAFFORD produced the goalkeeping performance of the season so far as Burnley dug deep to frustrate dominant Brighton.
The England Under-21s stopper was beaten by Simon Adingra’s header but he delivered a string of stunning saves – including a couple of remarkable efforts in added time – to preserve a coupon-busting draw.
Until the 77th minute it looked like Vincent Kompany’s team could even take all three points back to Turf Moor thanks to Wilson Odobert’s goal.
Yet were it not for the work of Trafford this would have been comfortable for Brighton, who ended with 29 attempts on goal.
After overcoming a slow start, Albion laid siege to Trafford’s goal. Pascal Gross and James
Milner were denied midway through the first half while Adingra and Mahmoud Dahoud had efforts blocked. Jan Paul van Hecke should have done better when Adingra floated in a teasing cross from the right but his header from 10 yards was directed just wide.
But just as the pressure looked like overwhelming battling Burnley, Odobert cut in from the left and watched his right-footed effort take a slight deflection off Milner before creeping past Bart Verbruggen.
Roberto De Zerbi sought to insert more creativity into Brighton by bringing on Kaoru Mitoma and Billy Gilmour but Burnley fashioned the next chance when Odobert’s attempt was parried by Vergbruggen and Jay Rodriguez’s rebound was blocked.
Dara O’shea and Jordan Beyer did a good job minimising the impact of Evan Ferguson while full-backs Vitinho and Charlie Taylor worked tirelessly.
Trafford spread himself wide to keep out Adingra before his goal was eventually breached by the Ivorian.
Gross sent in a deep cross and it evaded a cluster of players as Adingra arrived to head down and across goal.
One-way traffic continued but Trafford proceeded to go into overdrive late on. BRIGHTON: Verbruggen 5; Gross 7, Van Hecke 6, Dunk 6 (Buonanotte (85) 5), Milner 5 (Hinshelwood (58) 5); Baleba 5 (Igor (58) 5), Dahoud 5 (Gilmour (46) 5), Adingra 7, Lallana (Mitoma (46) 5), Pedro 5; Ferguson 5 BURNLEY: Trafford 8; Vitinho 6, O’shea 7, Beyer 7, Taylor 6; Gudmundsson 6 (Ramsey (58) 5 (Roberts (79) 5), Berge 7, Brownhill 6, Odobert 7 (Tresor (78) 5); Rodriguez 6 (Redmond (78) 5), Amdouni 6 (Ekdal (82) 5) STAR MAN: James Trafford – Exceptional saves gave Burnley hope of three points and earned them one. REF: Simon Hooper 7