Post-match report for our last game: Burnley, Sunday, 26th July 2020
PREMIER LEAGUE restarted: Burnley v Brighton - 26/7/20, P38.
(Postponed 17/5/20 - Prem suspended).
ALBION SEASON ENDS ONCE MORE IN THE BOTTOM SIX
RESULT: 1-2 ~ Bissouma, Connolly . (h-t 1-1) . SHAPE: 5-2-1-2
VENUE: Turf Moor, Burnley - nineteenth and final away match of thirty-eight fixtures, to complete the season.
PRE-KICKOFF: Tony Bloom was relieved to be in the Prem next term. Brighton fans were ending this campaign with slight feelings of disappointment.
If we should reach a BHA personal best points-wise today, could that really be cause for any virtual celebration? Supporters could not help thinking we were finally playing catch up.
WEATHER: English summer afternoon in late July.
GRAHAM POTTER had said Brighton would always battle in the Prem. It was his job to try and better that basic function, even if so-called establishment in the elite was, by some, considered overachievement or unsustainable.
TEAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Ryan
. 2 Lamptey, 15 Webster, 5 Dunk, 33 Burn, 20 March
. . . . . 10 Mac Allister, 6 Stephens, 8 Bissouma
. . . . . . . . 44 Connolly . . . . . 7 Maupay
BENCH: 27 Button, 22 Montoya, 11 Trossard, 13 Gross.
30 Bernardo (74), 24 Propper (74), 18 Mooy (74), 17 Murray (90), 16 Jahanbakhsh (93).
GOALS: 0-1 - 20. Following a cleared corner the ball falls to BISSOUMA who unleashes a fierce drive to the top corner from down range.
1-1 - 44. Locals striker does his job just prior to the break and stays switched on.
1-2 - 50. Albion press forward and Maupay feeds CONNOLLY to outrun defenders and clip the ball into the net.
INCIDENTS: 1st half - Ref dismisses hosts early penalty appeal, checked by VAR. Maupay heads onto the crossbar. 2nd half - for the second time travellers concede a little too easily but VAR decides on an offside decision.
YELLOWS: none in a disciplined away display.
SUBS: 74 - Bernardo, Propper & Mooy for March, Bissouma & Mac Allister.
90 - Murray for Connolly. 93 - Jahanbakhsh for Maupay.
ANALYSIS: going a goal up after fairly equal opening exchanges, handed visitors a useful head start in their bid to claim a rare victory on the road.
Come the interval, Seagulls tails were up (with no pressure from bottom six threats by chasing clubs) but somehow travellers conceded at the proverbial psychological moment.
Albion redressed balance soon after turnaround and quickly took advantage.
Clarets then battered the away defence and did everything but notch up an equaliser.
Potter made an initial triple change to bolster midfield and help protect rearguard. Blue & white (in new blue kit) plugged away and saw it through despite further threats, forays and scares into visitors area.
At end of the day it was job done by fair means rather than foul in an even contest up to average Prem standards.
MoM - Dunk, led by example.
NUMBERS: poss 55%-45%, on target 2-4, off target 11-10, corners 6-7, fouls 11-11, yellows 3-0, subs 2-5 (5/9).
CONSEQUENCES: the points tally marginally bettered both first & second terms. League position also completed well clear of the drop zone. An apprenticeship had been endured by manager & many of his squad now in situ for next season.
FS
MORE READING: via Stats page tabs - Squad, History & Travel, Archive for Prem table, facts, figs and Clubs records.
