Potter’s pride in battling Brighton
Burnley 1 Gudmundsson 53
Brighton 1 Dunk 36
BRIGHTON have beaten Leeds, Spurs and Liverpool in their now five-match unbeaten run but, in its own way, surviving a harsh afternoon at Turf Moor was just as impressive.
Graham Potter’s side have spent a lot of the season earning a reputation as pretty players lacking a ruthlessness to get over the line.
But last week’s win at Anfield earned them new respect and yesterday they coped with a horrible rainstorm in the first half and an aerial onslaught in the second.
Hopes of a fifth consecutive clean sheet were dashed when Johann Gudmundsson’s first goal in 18 months cancelled out a firsthalf header from Lewis Dunk, but the Seagulls still dug in to ensure they left with something.
Adam Webster, Dunk and Ben White put their bodies on the line to make vital blocks, while impressive goalkeeper Robert Sanchez bravely saved at point-blank range from Matej Vydra and held on to there bound despite Ashley Barnes’ follow-through.
That spirit shows Potter is building something, but Burnley’s Sean Dyche will also be happy with his side’s response to a sluggish first half.
‘I said at half-time to have a bit more belief and in the second half I thought we were outstanding,’ said the Clarets boss.
‘ It was a head- scratcher we didn’t get three points. I thought we had quality chances.’
It was a proud Potter who saw his side battle to a point after three tough games in six days.
‘I’ve got to consider seven points out of nine as excellent,’ he said. ‘Burnley put us under incredible pressure in the second half and lesser teams would have folded.
‘Fair play to our boys, we didn’t go under. We held on for an important point and we are happy with that when we weren’t at our best.’
Dyche will have been surprised, given Burnley’s strength in the air, to see his side fall behind to a header from a set piece.
Pascal Gross launched an outswinger that found Dunk in a surprisingly generous amount of space and the Seagulls skipper took full advantage to divert into the bottom corner beyond Nick Pope’s despairing dive. Gudmundsson also might have done more guarding the post, but he was to make amends later.
The opening goal livened up both sides. For Burnley, Jack Cork fired over after Matt Lowton’s run from right-back had caused problems. Dwight McNeil was later thwarted by Sanchez.
At the other end, Pope needed to stretch his long arms to tip Aaron Connolly’s shot around the post shortly before the interval. ‘2-0 might have made it a different game,’ rued Potter.
Burnley came out after the break like a team given a strong message by Dyche.
Their increased intensity was rewarded with an equaliser after 53 minutes. Barnes and Erik Pieters were both denied in the attack, but the ball fell to Gudmundsson on the edge of the box and it was third time lucky.
The Icelander rolled the ball home and marked the end of his goal drought by casually raising his arms in celebration.
It was the first goal Brighton had conceded in 459 minutes, and also meant Burnley are no longer the singular lowest scorers in the league — with their new total of 14 matching Sheffield United.
‘We have to continue with that freedom to attack. Making things happen rather than waiting,’ added Dyche.
Burnley could have completed the comeback. Barnes was denied by an excell ent bl ock f r om Sanchez and saw a header ruled out for offside.
The only two teams to win at Anfield this season couldn’t beat each other and, while neither will feel completely safe from relegation yet, there is a nice g a p b e t ween them and the bottom three — hence it feeling like a point gained rather than two lost.
BURNLEY (4-4-2): Pope 7; Lowton 6.5, Tarkowski 6, Mee 6, Pieters 6; Gudmundsson 6.5, Westwood 6, Cork 6, McNeil 7; Vyrdra 6, Barnes 5.5. Booked: Mee, Gudmundsson. Subs (not used): Peacock-Farrell, Stephens, Bardsley, Long, Dunne, Benson, Rodriguez, Driscoll-Glennon, Mumbongo. BRIGHTON (3-5-2): Sanchez 7; White 7, Dunk 7.5, Webster 6.5 (Lallana 75, 6); Veltman 6, Gross 7, Mac Allister 6, Bissouma 6.5, Burn 6; Connolly 6 (Welbeck 62, 6), Maupay 6.5 (Trossard 62, 6.5). Subs (not used): Walton, Karbownik, Moder, Alzate, Tau, Zeqiri. Referee: A Taylor (Cheshire) 5.5.