Murray spurns golden chance to end Brighton’s goal drought
A MISSED penalty, the post hit and a header cleared off the line – it simply will not go in for Chris Hughton’s Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Seagulls have now scored only once in their last six games, with Glenn Murray the culprit who fired his spot-kick over the crossbar in the first half.
A lack of scoring is becoming a serious issue for Brighton as they slide towards the bottom of the table.
‘It was a missed opportunity,’ Hughton confessed. ‘When somebody misses a penalty or they score an own goal, this is all part and parcel of the game. There is no point in saying anything because Glenn would be disappointed in himself.’
As for Sean Dyche’s Burnley, they had their own chances to win this in the second half, including a Chris Wood one-on-one. Despite not securing a win, this was a third successive clean sheet for the Clarets and took them up to fifth place before Liverpool’s game against Bournemouth today.
Dyche was asked afterwards whether, given how his side are now rubbing shoulders with Europe-chasing clubs, they should be travelling to the likes of Brighton and winning.
‘That would be an amazing shift, wouldn’t it?’ Dyche answered. ‘People actually going, “Burnley, they should be going to
Brighton and winning”. I don’t think we’re quite there.
‘We don’t swagger into places. We haven’t earned that yet. There are no delusions of grandeur for what we’re achieving.’
As the full-time whistle went, both sets of supporters left knowing they would have to stay up late to watch this one on Match of the Day.
It was all Brighton in the first half. By the break, they were wondering how it was not 3-0.
The woodwork saved the visitors in the 22nd minute when Anthony Knockaert struck a powerful shot against the post with Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope beaten.
Less than two minutes later, a header from Lewis Dunk looked set for the top corner. All 5ft 11in of Phil Bardsley stretched to clear off the line. Again, Pope was beaten but again, Burnley survived.
The visiting goalkeeper’s palms were stung by a vicious Murray shot before the penalty in the 35th minute. Murray was brought down by James Tarkowski in a tangle of legs and referee Chris Kavanagh took his time before pointing to the spot. Burnley felt justice was done when Murray, taking the penalty himself, blazed the ball into Row Q.
Burnley had their chance to win it in the 73rd minute when Wood was through. He tried to chip Mathew Ryan but a superb save confirmed the 0-0 scoreline.