I don’t want to be too critical because that’s the first dip we’ve had
Graham Potter is still looking for his first home win as Brighton manager but thought he’d got it yesterday when the game went into stoppage time with his side leading 1-0, only for Burnley to equalise in the first of the four minutes added on.
“Apart from the first 25 minutes, when Burnley were the better team, we were the team most likely,” he said. “So of course it’s a sore one conceding so later. It was a good bit of play from them in fairness, but they scored from their only shot on target, sometimes that happens.
“We put so much into the game. We’re disappointed to come away with only one point, but in terms of the overall performance, again, it was very promising.
“With their defence so deep, it can be hard to create chances against them, but I thought we did that. Sometimes you have to hold your hands up to the opposition, but over the course of the game, I thought we more than matched what they did and had our own opportunities.”
Sean Dyche was full of praise for goalscorer Jeff Hendrick. “All credit to Jeff because he’s a fantastic pro,” Dyche said of his midfielder. “The margins are tight and he’s a bit unlucky not to be playing at the moment. The players probably think the team picks itself, but I told them it doesn’t, and Jeff has certainly knocked on the door today. He deserves that and over the season he will play his part, for sure.
“We all know it’s a squad game. All three substitutes came on and affected the game, and what a great mentality again. We’ve done that so many times and that’s because of the joint mentality of the whole group. We keep playing for every breath and that’s a powerful thing that, over a season, pays you back. It can’t be under-estimated and It’s done that today with a valuable point on the road.”
Dyche added: “It’s a strange feeling because I felt for the first 25 minutes or half an hour we were excellent. We had two or three golden chances and that’s where the big teams punish others, but we were playing well. We broke their play and the crowd were just about to turn, then they went back to a more familiar rhythm from last season and looked a different side.
“The balance of the play levelled a little bit, but in the second half I felt Brighton were good. All credit to them and we never got to grips with them at all. We just didn’t look like ourselves, with too many long straight balls and everyone kind of looking for someone else to do something.
“I don’t want to be too critical because that’s the first dip we’ve had in the performances this season, but we had to make a change and I was pleased with all three substitutes because they affected the game, culminating in Jeff scoring a fine goal.”
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