MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 1 – 1 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION

Points shared in Turf Moor clash

Burnley were denied all three points on Saturday afternoon after Josh Brownhill’s goal was cancelled out by an unfortunate own goal four minutes later.

Brownhill was introduced from the bench in the second half and it took the midfielder just six minutes to make an impact after firing the hosts ahead in the 74th minute, before Aro Muric mistimed Sander Berge’s pass-back as the visitors clawed level.

Manager Vincent Kompany was absent from the touchline as the Clarets boss served his suspension following his dismissal at Chelsea last month, but will return to the dugout against the Blades.

There were two changes for the Clarets as the suspended Dara O’Shea made way for Hjalmar Ekdal and Vitinho replaced Charlie Taylor.

After a steady opening five minutes at a sunny Turf Moor, there was an early penalty appeal for the hosts.

Lyle Foster combined a neat one-two with Wilson Odobert on the edge of the area, with the young Frenchman then brought down inside the area under a physical challenge from Pervis Estupinan, but referee Simon Hooper waved away any calls for a spot-kick.

The Clarets then had a glorious opportunity to take the lead when Odobert floated a delightful ball towards the back-post for an unmarked Bruun Larsen, but the Dane could only flash it wide of the target from close range.

Brighton then had a chance of their own shortly after when Simon Adingra weaved himself to the edge of the box and unleashed an effort towards goal but Muric had it covered.

In a cagey contest with not much to separate the two teams, Joao Pedro glanced a header just wide of post with five minutes left of the first half.

But the last chance of the half fell to David Fofana as Odobert fired in a low cross across the face of goal, but the Ivorian striker just couldn’t quite connect from a few yards out to turn it home.

The Clarets got the second half underway and there was a half time change for Burnley as Charlie Taylor replaced Vitinho.

Roberto De Zerbi’s side carved open an early opportunity when Adingra was threaded through on goal, but an excellent challenge from Esteve denied the forward a shot on target.

With the hour mark approaching, Albion had another chance to take the lead as Gross intercepted Berge’s pass just outside the area, before forcing Muric to tip over his fierce strike for a corner.

Still goalless and looking to find the opener, the hosts made their second change of the afternoon with just under half-an-hour left as Jay Rodriguez replaced Fofana in attack.

With the Clarets pushing for a goal, Burnley then made a third change as Brownhill came on for Ekdal.

And less than 10 minutes later, it was the substitute who broke the deadlock, after latching onto a through ball towards the box, the midfielder raced forward and beat Verbruggen to it and poked home to give the Clarets the lead.

But moments later Albion equalised as Berge’s unfortunate pass-back skimmed under the feet of Muric and into the back of the net.

Both teams pushed to snatch a late winner in the final 10 minutes but neither side could break through and the points were shared in an even contest.

Burnley: Muric, Assignon, Ekdal (Brownhill 68), Esteve, Vitinho (Taylor HT), Cullen, Berge, Bruun Larsen (Tresor 86), Odobert, Foster, Fofana (Rodriguez 63)

Unused substitutes: Trafford, Gudmundsson, Benson, Amdouni, Massengo

Brighton: Verbruggen, Dunk, Veltman, Van Hecke, Moder (Fati 77) Estupinan, (Igor 13) Gross, Baleba, Adingra(Lallana 77), Pedro (O’Mahony 90) Welbeck (Buonanotte 77)

Unused substitutes: Steele, Barco, Offiah, Peupion

Goals: Brownhill 74’, Muric OG 79’