Muric mistake denies Burnley win over Brighton
A calamitous own goal by goalkeeper Arijanet Muric prevented Burnley from securing a vital Premier League win over Brighton at Turf Moor.
One week after the Kosovan's mistake handed Everton a 1-0 victory over Vincent Kompany's side, Muric allowed a simple backpass from his team-mate Sander Berge to roll under his heel and into the net.
Josh Brownhill had given Burnley's chances of Premier League survival a glimmer of hope on 74 minutes when he nipped in to take advantage of a short backpass from Carlos Baleba and the ball cannoned in off the side of keeper Bart Verbruggen to give the home side the lead.
But just five minutes later Muric's error levelled proceedings and Burnley could not restore their advantage to take all three points.
The result leaves Brighton 10th in the Premier League while Burnley are still firmly rooted in the relegation zone, six points from safety.
Follow Burnley v Brighton live plus Saturday's other Premier League actionIn a game of few chances, Burnley had the better of them in the opening 45 minutes as Jacob Bruun Larsen missed a tap-in at the back post from five yards before David Datro Fofana could not connect with a brilliant Wilson Odobert pass to slide home.
The home side were denied an early penalty after a clumsy foul by Pervis Estupinan on Odobert but were ultimately left to rue their missed chances.
Burnley boss Vincent Kompany was absent from the dugout after receiving a one-match ban for a red card at Chelsea last month, with assistant coach Craig Bellamy taking charge.
Burnley losing hope as Brighton peter outKompany has often talked this season about his side playing better than their opponents, but those good performances mean nothing if not reflected in results.
Burnley have lost a club-record 11 of their 17 Premier League home matches this season and failed to score in 12 of their 33 league games - the most of any team in the top flight.
After two glorious chances in the first half Jay Rodriguez also went close in the second period and defensively Burnley were solid.
But, leading games before capitulating through needless errors has been the story of their season - 24 points dropped from leading positions evidence of that.
They will see this as two points lost rather than one gained with tough games against Manchester United and Tottenham on the horizon.
As things stand, a point is likely not enough to give Burnley any real hopes of survival and the crestfallen reaction of their players at full-time suggested they also thought that to be the case.
What did you make of Burnley's display? Send us your views hereHow did you rate Brighton's performance? Have your say hereThe result will hurt more given Brighton were not at their best at Turf Moor and recent results suggest the Seagulls' season is at risk of petering out.
They did improve in the second half, pressing with more intensity as Pascal Gross saw an effort tipped over the bar and Joao Pedro headed just wide from a corner.
But, having qualified for Europe for the first time in their history last season, they have now secured just six victories in their past 26 league games and another season of playing on the continent is starting to look unlikely.
Manager Roberto de Zerbi was already without nine first-team players and his list of casualties could be extended to 10 after Estupinan had to be replaced early in the first half having sustained an apparent ankle injury off the ball.
The Italian's side have picked up just two points from their past four games and it seems the addition of European football to their schedule has proved a step too far this campaign.
Player of the match
DunkLewis Dunk
with an average of 7.86
Squad number24Player nameCullen
Squad number8Player nameBrownhill
Squad number9Player nameRodríguez
Squad number17Player nameFoster
Squad number34Player nameBruun Larsen
Squad number20Player nameAssignon
Squad number33Player nameEsteve
Squad number23Player nameFofana
Squad number47Player nameOdobert
Squad number16Player nameBerge
Squad number31Player nameTrésor
Squad number3Player nameTaylor
Squad number18Player nameEkdal
Squad number22Player nameVitinho
Squad number49Player nameMuric
Squad number5Player nameDunk
Squad number13Player nameGroß
Squad number18Player nameWelbeck
Squad number9Player nameJoão Pedro
Squad number15Player nameModer
Squad number29Player namevan Hecke
Squad number24Player nameAdingra
Squad number34Player nameVeltman
Squad number20Player nameBaleba
Squad number1Player nameVerbruggen
Squad number55Player nameO’Mahony
Squad number14Player nameLallana
Squad number30Player nameEstupiñán
Squad number40Player nameBuonanotte
Squad number31Player nameAnsu Fati
Squad number3Player nameIgor Julio
Formation 4-4-2
49Muric20Assignon18EkdalSubstituted forBrownhillat 67'minutes33Esteve22da SilvaSubstituted forTaylorat 45'minutes17Foster24CullenBooked at 28mins16Berge34Bruun LarsenSubstituted forTrésorat 86'minutes47Odobert23FofanaSubstituted forRodríguezat 62'minutesSubstitutes1Trafford3Taylor7Gudmundsson8Brownhill9Rodríguez10Manuel25Amdouni31Trésor42MassengoFormation 4-2-3-1
1Verbruggen34VeltmanBooked at 90mins29van Hecke5Dunk30EstupiñánSubstituted fordos Santos de Pauloat 13'minutes13Groß20Baleba24AdingraSubstituted forLallanaat 77'minutes15ModerSubstituted forAnsu Fatiat 77'minutes9João PedroSubstituted forO’Mahonyat 89'minutesBooked at 90mins18WelbeckSubstituted forBuonanotteat 77'minutesSubstitutes3dos Santos de Paulo14Lallana19Barco23Steele31Ansu Fati40Buonanotte42Offiah44Peupion55O’MahonyMatch ends, Burnley 1, Brighton and Hove Albion 1.
Second Half ends, Burnley 1, Brighton and Hove Albion 1.
Mark O’Mahony (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Mark O’Mahony (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Mike Trésor (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Wilson Odobert (Burnley) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Josh Cullen.
Foul by Carlos Baleba (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Sander Berge (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. Ansu Fati is caught offside.
Carlos Baleba (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Josh Brownhill (Burnley).
Joël Veltman (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card.
Corner, Burnley. Conceded by Igor Julio.
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Mark O’Mahony replaces João Pedro.
Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jay Rodríguez (Burnley).
Attempt missed. João Pedro (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Adam Lallana.
Attempt blocked. Ansu Fati (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by João Pedro.
Substitution, Burnley. Mike Trésor replaces Jacob Bruun Larsen.
João Pedro (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.