Skip to main contentSkip to navigationSkip to navigation
Burnley’s Nick Pope looks on as Glenn Murray fires his penalty over.
Burnley’s Nick Pope looks on as Glenn Murray fires his penalty over. Photograph: Ashley Western/CameraSport via Getty Images
Burnley’s Nick Pope looks on as Glenn Murray fires his penalty over. Photograph: Ashley Western/CameraSport via Getty Images

Brighton’s wasteful Glenn Murray skies penalty to help Burnley to draw

This article is more than 6 years old

Chris Hughton admits Brighton must quickly find a formula for regularly scoring goals after their winless run stretched to seven Premier League games with a draw against Burnley. Albion are one of the lowest scorers in the division having found the back of the net just 14 times in 18 matches this season, including only once in their last five fixtures.

They had numerous opportunities to make a breakthrough against high-flying Burnley with Glenn Murray squandering a first-half penalty, Anthony Knockaert striking a post and Lewis Dunk seeing a header cleared off the line. The out-of-form Seagulls remain without a victory since the first weekend in November and Hughton knows his side must become more clinical in front of goal.

“Particularly when you’re going through your better period in the game, where we certainly did in that first half, in that stage there was only one team likely to score,” he said. “Of course, what happens when you don’t score in that period, it gives the opposition a little bit of a lift. When you miss chances – when you miss a penalty – it gives them a lift.

“They’re a very good side at the moment and you can see why they’re in the form they’re in. We’ve just got to find this formula to get the goals that we need to win matches. [I’m] disappointed because it’s a game we should have won.”

It was the first top-flight meeting between the two clubs and Hughton made four changes after Wednesday’s defeat by Tottenham. Murray was one of the men recalled and he headed an early opportunity straight at Nick Pope after being picked out by Bruno’s right-wing centre. The striker then blazed over from the penalty spot in the 36th minute after he was adjudged to have been bundled over by the Burnley defender James Tarkowski. Despite the miss costing the home side two valuable points, Hughton refused to blame his top scorer.

Under the lights at the Amex Stadium. Photograph: James Marsh/BPI/Rex/Shutterstock

“When somebody misses a penalty or they score an own goal, this is all part and parcel of the game,” Hughton added. “There’s no point in saying anything because he’ll be disappointed himself. And Glenn’s one that’s normally very reliable, so there isn’t anything to say.”

Given their recent high standards, it was a below-par display from Burnley, although they should have secured all three points 17 minutes from time. Substitute Ashley Barnes slipped through Chris Wood but the New Zealand international’s dinked attempt was well blocked by the Brighton goalkeeper Mathew Ryan to ensure a draw.

Sean Dyche felt the point capped an impressive week for his in-form Burnley side. The stalemate means the fifth-placed club have taken seven points from their three games during the last eight days without conceding.

“They set about us early in the game and I thought we withstood that pressure well, tactically from the team,” Dyche said. “In the second half, we grew into the game and got stronger. The overriding thing is three clean sheets and seven points in a week. That’s a fantastic return.”

Comments (…)

Sign in or create your Guardian account to join the discussion

Most viewed

Most viewed