Match report and free highlights as Brighton and Burnley draw 1-1 at the Amex Stadium; Simon Adingra's second-half header cancels out Wilson Odobert's first-half opener; James Trafford's heroics earn visitors point on south coast; Brighton stay eighth in table while Burnley are 19th
Saturday 9 December 2023 19:11, UK
Brighton were frustrated by a superb performance from Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford as they played out an entertaining 1-1 draw at the Amex Stadium.
Simon Adingra headed in from Pascal Gross' cross in the 77th minute to deny Vincent Kompany's side, who had looked set to claim a second away win of the season courtesy of Wilson Odobert's sensational solo effort at the end of the first half.
Odobert's strike had rocketed beyond Bart Verbruggen in the Brighton goal against the run of play to stun home fans, but after Roberto De Zerbi's team had drawn level late on, they bombarded the Burnley goal, only to find Trafford in the form of his life to keep out Jack Hinshelwood and Kaoru Mitoma at the death.
The result sees Brighton stay eighth in the Premier League table with 26 points after 16 games. Burnley remain 19th on eight points, two adrift of 17th-placed Everton.
Brighton dominated the ball for the opening 10 minutes but they conceded the game's first chance to Burnley, Sander Berge driving forward and passing to the feet of Johann Berg Gudmundsson who turned and curled wide with his left foot from just inside the box.
The hosts grew only slowly as an attacking threat. Charlie Taylor stretched well to hook Joao Pedro's far-post cross away from the foot of Adingra, who would have had a tap-in, before Gross headed up and onto the roof of the goal from James Milner's inviting delivery.
Minutes later, Gross spurned the clearest chance of the opening half-hour when, after being set up on the right by good play between Pedro and Adingra, he shot low to the near post instead of aiming across goal, Trafford turning it aside well with a strong left boot.
By now De Zerbi's side were comfortably on top. Trafford made another save this time down to his right from Milner's driven effort, before Jan Paul van Hecke wasted a golden opportunity, thumping a free header wide following a superbly flighted cross from Adingra.
Burnley were stretched, struggling to contain Brighton's speed of passing and movement in between their lines, and Mahmoud Dahoud almost made them pay in spectacular fashion, his thunderous effort whistling inches over from 20 yards.
The goal then came completely against the run of play and owed everything to the brilliance of Odobert.
There seemed to be little on when the 19-year-old collected the ball on the left just outside the box in the final minute of the half. Three Brighton players stood off him, providing Odobert all the encouragement he needed, and with a stunning right-footed drive that nicked off Milner and looped over Verbruggen he gave the visitors the lead.
Brighton had won only twice in the league since September and that patchy form looked like persisting. De Zerbi sent on Mitoma and Billy Gilmour at the break to try and tip the game in his side's favour.
Instead it was Burnley who almost extended their lead and it was Odobert again the threat, drawing a brave low stop from Verbruggen, with Jay Rodriguez foiled by the goalkeeper from the follow-up.
By the hour mark, Kompany's side had dropped considerably deeper than during the first half, and Brighton were dominating again.
Mitoma swept a bending shot over the bar with his instep, Evan Ferguson put a free header wide from Van Hecke's cross, and the Amex grew increasingly anxious as the prospect of a second defeat in three league games loomed.
The chances came more freely. Gross found Adingra in an acre of space at the far post, Trafford excelling yet again, racing from goal to deny him with a sprawling block.
Then finally came the equaliser Brighton had deserved, and it was the excellent Gross that made it. Aaron Ramsey tried to stand up the Germany international on the edge of the box, but checking back onto his right foot he crossed for Adingra who made amends for his earlier miss with a header into the corner.
Substitute Hinshelwood's header was then brilliantly pushed behind by Trafford in stoppage time.
Burnley's goalkeeper had been outstanding, and he saved his very best until last, fingertipping over from Mitoma's right-foot bullet in the dying seconds.
Vincent Kompany said Burnley will need more outstanding individual performances like Trafford's in order to survive in the Premier League.
"The game demanded it at the end," Kompany said. "You don't come to these places and get a result without moments like this.
"It's in the bank for him (Trafford), in terms of having come through this. He needs to keep working on becoming the best he can be. We're very fortunate to have two very good goalkeepers.
"His season has been no different to everyone else in the team. He's improved throughout the season, shown good signs. He's been more and more consistent and ultimately at this level consistency is the key word.
"We have more and more players who perform at a consistent level. In games like this, without someone having an outstanding performance, you never get results."
On the overall display from his side, Kompany said: "We're not at a level yet where we can compete every week with teams like Brighton on an equal level. There's a tremendous belief in me that the club is going in the right direction.
"Our biggest, unique strength is it's an elite club in terms of the attitude, the standard and the habits. I would put us against anybody. The amount of belief and resilience we've got. It's a special club that really lives.
"It's not for no reason that after such a tough start, you still see progression, you still see people getting better. That won't stop."
Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi reflected that there is still a way to go before his side can consider themselves amongst the league's top bracket.
"I consider my team a very good team, I have big, big confidence," he said.
"There isn't anyone more than me who believes in my players. But we are not a top team yet, because a top team wins this game, against Sheffield (United) and against Fulham (both games finished 1-1 at the Amex).
"Winning these three games, we would be third in the table. These three games, we played very well, and we deserved to win.
"Why didn't we win these three games? Maybe because we are not a top team yet. Maybe the coach of Brighton is not a top, top coach yet."
Brighton must beat Marseille at home on Thursday to finish top of Group B in the Europa League; kick-off 8pm. Robert De Zerbi's side then return to Premier League action next Sunday when they travel to Arsenal; kick-off 2pm.
Burnley host relegation rivals Everton next Saturday, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 5.30pm. Vincent Kompany's team then make the trip to Fulham on December 23; kick-off 3pm.
