Potter’s substitutions help to outfox Dyche

Burnley

Graham Potter provided further proof of his skill at utilising options from the bench on Saturday.

Only four Premier League sides made more substitutions than

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Brighton’s 108 last season, but it is not just about the quantity of manager Potter’s replacements, it is also the quality. In short, the 46-year-old allows his substitutes enough time to make their mark.

Adam Lallana was given the entire second half in place of Enock Mwepu, the shellshocked debutant having failed to come to terms with Burnley’s uncompromising physical approach in an eye-opening 45 minutes for the Zambia international.

Lallana’s steadying influence and nous proved crucial in helping Albion to belatedly establish a foothold and to go on and win the game.

Potter rarely waits until the final 10 minutes to roll the dice, and Jakub Moder and Alexis Mac Allister had – including stoppage time – well over a quarter of an hour each to put their stamp on a no-holds-barred fixture.

That they both did so with their first significant involvement – Moder sending over an inch-perfect low cross for Neal Maupay to slide home from close range and Mac Allister claiming the winner from a near identical Pascal Gross centre – underlined Potter’s role in outfoxing his Burnley counterpart Sean Dyche, whose side faded.

Maupay, who turned 25 on match day, was keen to dedicate his goal to his two-month-old daughter. The French forward said: “With travelling up here for the game, it was a bit sad to be away from her and my family for my birthday. So the goal is definitely for her.”