Burnley’s assistant coach, Craig Bellamy, took responsibility for goalkeeper Arijanet Muric’s calamitous own goal in their recent match against Brighton. Muric allowed a simple backpass to roll under his heel into the net, costing Burnley a vital Premier League win. However, Bellamy defended Muric, stating that the mistake was a result of Burnley’s style of play, which demands that the goalkeeper be able to play with his feet. Bellamy emphasized that they do not view it as the goalkeeper’s fault but rather as a collective responsibility.
This incident comes after Muric made another costly error in a match against Everton, which resulted in a 1-0 defeat. Despite fans calling for Muric’s replacement, manager Vincent Kompany has favored the Kosovan goalkeeper over the usual number one, James Trafford, in their past five games. Trafford was dropped following Burnley’s win over Brentford last month.
Burnley’s struggles this season extend beyond Muric’s mistakes. The team has lost a club-record 11 of their 17 Premier League home matches and has failed to score in 12 of their 33 league games, the highest number among all teams in the top flight. They have also dropped 24 points from leading positions, highlighting their inability to hold onto leads.
The result against Brighton dealt a significant blow to Burnley’s hopes of survival. They remain firmly rooted in the relegation zone, six points away from safety. With tough games against Manchester United and Tottenham on the horizon, a single point is unlikely to give Burnley much hope. The players’ crestfallen reaction at full-time indicated that they also recognized the gravity of the situation.
On the other hand, Brighton’s season is also at risk of petering out. They are currently in 10th place in the Premier League but have only secured six victories in their past 26 league games. After qualifying for Europe for the first time in their history last season, another season of playing on the continent is starting to look unlikely for Brighton.
Manager Roberto de Zerbi has been dealing with numerous injuries, with nine first-team players already unavailable for selection. Pervis Estupinan became the latest casualty, being replaced early in the first half due to an ankle injury sustained off the ball. The team has picked up just two points from their past four games and seems to be struggling to cope with the additional demands of European football.
In terms of performance, Lewis Dunk was named the player of the match, averaging a rating of 7.86. For Burnley, Josh Brownhill and Jay Rodriguez had opportunities to score but were unable to convert. Defensively, Burnley was solid, but their inability to capitalize on their chances and their propensity for making costly errors have haunted them throughout the season.
Overall, Burnley’s loss against Brighton is a microcosm of their struggles this season. Despite playing well at times, they have been unable to translate their performances into positive results. Their hopes of survival are dwindling, while Brighton’s season seems to be losing momentum. Both teams face significant challenges in the remaining matches and will need to address their respective issues to achieve their goals.