MATCH REPORT: BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1 – 1 BURNLEY

Odobert strike cancelled out by Adingra equaliser at the Amex

Wilson Odobert marked his return to the XI with a first half strike to give Burnley the lead before a Simon Adingra equaliser in the 77th minute saw the points shared at the Amex Arena.

As the two sides looked to be heading into the break level, Odobert struck from the edge of the area with a sweet strike to give the Clarets a half time advantage. Brighton grabbed their equalising goal with 13 minutes to play when Adingra headed in at the back post.

James Trafford played a big part in the Clarets holding on for a point in the latter stages with some excellent saves amongst the 10 made from the Burnley No.1 as the Seagulls applied late pressure.

Manager Vincent Kompany made three changes from the team that faced Wolves on Tuesday night as Jordan Beyer returned to the XI following his suspension coming into defence for Hjalmar Ekdal with Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Wilson Odobert replacing Luca Koleosho and Jacob Bruun Larsen out wide.

First Half

Burnley’s first real opportunity of the game fell to Gudmundsson as the Icelandic midfielder picked up the ball just inside the area and curled it towards the far post narrowly missing the top corner as a stranded Verbruggen could only watch on.

Albion were next up to try break the deadlock as Lallana weaved into the box and aimed for Adingra at the back post but a vital block from Taylor denied the forward a chance at slotting home from close range.

The hosts had another chance on the half-hour mark when Adingra slipped in Gross who raced into the area and saw his effort aiming for the near post saved by the legs of Trafford.

Trafford was forced into action once again a few minutes later when Milner’s low hit effort was denied by the hands of the England U21 shot stopper before van Hecke then saw his towering header planted just wide of the post as De Zerbi’s men began to apply pressure on the visitors.

Brighton were enjoying an attacking spell and had another opportunity with 10 minutes left on the clock when Gross teed up Dahoud on the edge of the area only for the former Borussia Dortmund man to curl over the crossbar.

Despite Brighton’s spell of pressure, it was the Clarets who then broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time when Odobert worked his way to the edge of the area before turning and picking out the top corner taking a slight deflection on it’s way in past Verbruggen.

Second Half

The Clarets started the second half brightly and had a chance to double the lead with three minutes played when Odobert broke into the area and dazzled Gross before seeing his strike saved by Verbruggen, who could only palm it into the path of Rodriguez with the striker seeing his attempt also denied.

The hour mark saw both sides turn to their bench, as Kompany introduced Ramsey for Gudmundsson and De Zerbi brought on Hinshelwood and Igor for Milner and Adingra.

Albion half time substitute Mitoma then tried his luck with a first time curled effort from just inside the box but it sailed well over the target.

Trafford then made a superb stop at the back post to deny Adringa from firing home unmarked from yards out to keep the Clarets ahead.

But just minutes later the Seagulls found their equaliser as Adringa headed in from close range to pull the scores level at the Amex.

Trafford was turning out to be the star of the afternoon after making fantastic stops again to keep the Albion at bay.

Burnley: Trafford, Vitinho, O’Shea, Beyer, Taylor, Brownhill, Gudmundsson (Ramsey 58) (Roberts 78), Berge, Odobert (Tresor 78), Amdouni (Ekdal 81), Rodriguez (Redmond 75)

Unused substitutes: Muric, Massengo, Zaroury, Bruun Larsen

Brighton & Hove Albion: Verbruggen, Dunk (Buonanotte 84), Gross, van Hecke, Milner (Igor 58), Dahoud (Mitoma HT), Lallana (Gilmour HT), Baleba (Hinshelwood 58), Pedro, Ferguson, Adingra

Unused substitutes: Steele, Julio, Moder, Baker-Boaitey, O’Mahony

Goals: Odobert 45’, Adingra 77′