Murray’s blazed penalty keeps Burnley on track
It is an exciting time to be a Burnley fan. Fifth in the league and with Tottenham, Manchester United and Liverpool to play over the festive season, they are in uncharted waters.
This was a little less exciting, and manager Sean Dyche was satisfied to leave his Christmas trip to the seaside with a point after weathering Brighton’s first-half storm.
“The overriding thing is three clean sheets and seven points in a week. That’s a fantastic return,” said Dyche.
“We’re not the real deal but I think we’ve moved forward. We don’t swagger into places. We haven’t earned that yet,” he added, as ever keeping his feet well and truly anchored to the ground.
Brighton were the better side, particularly in the first half, which would have been reflected on the scoresheet had Glenn Murray not fired his penalty so high it nearly left the Amex Stadium.
“I think it was more of a tangle than a foul. From a distance you can see why he’s given it,” said Dyche. Murray’s was clearly Brighton’s best chance, though Anthony Knockaert also hit a post and Nick Pope saved brilliantly from Lewis Dunk’s header.
This result is far more costly for the hosts than the visitors. Chris Hughton’s side are now without a win since Nov 4 and have scored only once – a penalty – in six games.
“When somebody misses a penalty that is part and parcel of the game. There’s no point in saying anything because he would be very disappointed himself,” said Hughton, adding that this game was “a missed opportunity”.
This was the first meeting between these sides in the top flight and it is unlikely to live long in the memory.
The stadium announcer fluffed his lines as the teams emerged for kick-off to set the tone for Murray’s similarly indecipherable set-piece.
Brighton were rewarded for their efforts when Chris Kavanagh awarded them a penalty as Murray tangled legs with James Tarkowski, while heading away from goal.
The decision looked harsh, but Murray blazed the spot-kick over the bar with Dyche still busy remonstrating with the fourth official on the touchline.
There had been few early openings for either side, though Dunk’s volley would have threatened the goal if it had not smacked into the back of his
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team-mate, Pascal Gross, after 12 minutes. Burnley were improved in the second half, though there were very few chances for either side.
Dunk set Knockaert free down the right and the Frenchman raced towards goal, only to shoot unconvincingly past the far post.
Though Burnley were on the back foot, Chris Wood did find the net after an hour but was judged offside following Scott Arfield’s initial shot.
Wood then latched on to another through-ball and tried to chip Brighton goalkeeper Mathew Ryan but the Australian was equal to it.
Brighton were unable to maintain the momentum they had created earlier and Dyche’s men seemed happy to settle for a point, which keeps them on the coat-tails of the league’s elite.
“I’m very conscious of how difficult this league is,” said Hughton. “Teams around us and even below us have more experience than us and have spent more money than us.
“We’ve just got to find this formula to get the goals that we need to win football matches.”
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