Post Match report for the Burnley game - Saturday, 8th December 2018

PREMIER LEAGUE; Burnley v Brighton

ALBION ON THE ROAD TO NOWHERE UP AT THE MOOR

VENUE; Turf Moor, Burnley - ninth away game of 16 fixtures.
RESULT; 1-0 . (h-t 1-0) . SHAPE; 4-5-1 . REF; well acquainted with the northwest but unbiased on return.

PREAMBLE; in a traditionally busy December, to date footy festive momentum was with the south-coast side following three points up north last time out. Supporters realise vagaries of results from fixtures in bottom half of the PL table and today was no exception.
GATE; 18,497 . WEATHER; wet & windy.

CHRIS HUGHTON made changes to the previous starting eleven due to injuries & suspension, namely to Izquierdo & Duffy respectively. Knockaert & Balogun duly deputised while Andone came in for Murray and Bruno resumed from kickoff.
White stepped up from PL2 to sit among substitutes with Stephens, back from a ban.

TEAM; . . . . . . . . . . 1 Ryan
. . 2 Bruno, 14 Balogun, 5 Dunk, 30 Bernardo
. . 11 Knockaert, 24 Propper, 8 Bissouma, 20 March
. . . . . . . . 13 Gross, . . . . . . 10 Andone

BENCH; 23 Steele, 3 Bong, 28 White, 6 Stephens (79), 7 Kayal, 9 Locadia (63), 17 Murray (63).


GOALS; 40 - 1-0. Visitors were under pressure in the area and Ryan came to punch but it fell short to an opponent and deflected on return.

INCIDENTS; or rather lack of attacks at the sharp end - see stats below for on target.

YELLOWS; none. Hosts took two for the team in very late stages.

SUBS; 63 - a double change involved removing Knockaert and Andone for Locadia and Murray. Travellers rearranged for offensive action. 79 - Gross withdrawn for Stephens.
The three interventions made little difference to really upping the ante.


ANALYSIS; it was a scrappy affair reminiscent of lower levels from days of yore. In terms of entertainment, becoming a contest resembling the morning after the night before at the Amex. Albion got sucked into hosts tactics of hustle & bustle with route one replacing passing football during an unappetising spectacle in atrocious conditions.
As time elapsed the BHA display was only consistent with what is the typical measure for away trips. The will to win appeared sorely lacking, indeed the desire to impose equal competitiveness in the final third and salvage a point seemed questionable.
It all reduced to average outcomes from a less than average side on travels. At the death pressure on locals was too little, too late.

NUMBERS; shape 442-451, poss 38%-62%, on target 4-1, off target 4-12, corners 2-7, fouls 11-11, yellows 2-0, subs 2-3 . MoM - answers via text to Sussex media.

Fatmanslims

SATURDAY TABLE:
Po . Pl . -GD . Pt
11 . 16 . -03 . 21 Brighton
12 . 15 . -03 . 20 Watford
13 . 15 . -03 . 19 Wolves
14 . 16 . -15 . 14 Cardiff
15 . 15 . -08 . 13 Newcastle
16 . 16 . -10 . 12 Palace
17 . 16 . -17 . 12 Burnley
18 . 16 . -17 . 10 Huddersfield
19 . 16 . -17 . 09 Southampton
20 . 16 . -24 . 09 Fulham