THREE SAVES, THREE LIONS?

Brilliant Pope deserves England call- up

NICK POPE must have listened closely when Gareth Southgate said Jordan Pickford had no serious challengers for the England No. 1 spot.

The Burnley keeper was in superb form once again to deny Brighton on the south coast.

The Golden Glove runner- up made three big saves to keep the dominant Seagulls at bay and preserve a priceless point for struggling Burnley.

The Clarets, still in deep trouble, remain winless in eight league games, but they will take whatever they can get right now.

Brighton peppered the Burnley goal with 19 shots but rarely looked like beating Pope, whose confidence was underlined by a cool, late one- handed catch.

And it’s still just one win in t he home si de’s l ast 13 games at the Amex, where they haven’t won since beating Arsenal in June.

That has to change if the

Seagul l s are t o av oi d another relegation battle this season, and they will see this as a missed opportunity.

The Clarets came into the game at a low ebb having suffered their worst start to a league season.

And they almost went behind in the first minute when Danny Welbeck, in his first start for Brighton, fed Tariq Lamptey, who spooned it over the bar.

Matt Lowton ( below) then hit the crossbar with a mis- hit cross f or Burnley before Chris Wood was called for a foul on the follow- up.

At times, Welbeck and Neal Maupay l ooked l i ke a ti dy partnership f or Brighton, linking up well together and testing the Burnley back four.

Pope saved a header from Pascal Gross after a cross from Adam Lallana. But Robbie Brady was not far wide at t he oth er end with an overh ead kick.

Pope then made an even better save to deny Welbeck after some brilliant approach play by Lallana. Just before half- t i me Welbeck f ound himself through again - but again Pope foiled him, rushing off his line to smother the danger.

If Brighton had a topclass striker they would be a real force to be reckoned with. But they struggle to kill off teams.