Brighton kept their hopes of winning European football alive with six games left in the Premier League as they beat Burnley 2-0 at Turf Moor with Mats Wiefer scoring twice.
Wiefer had scored just one goal for Brighton before trebling his club’s tally against Burnley, but he scored a much-needed opening goal in the first half after his team had weathered some early pressure from their opponents.
Jadon Anthony thought he had given Burnley an early lead in the seventh minute, but the celebrations were cut short when replays showed he had strayed inches offside.
Wiefer’s unlikely candidate was then spotted perfectly by Pascal Gros in the box and slotted home to break the deadlock just before half-time.
Bashir Humphries fired in what looked like an equalizer from close range to punish Brighton’s poor second half, but the defender suffered the same fate as team-mate Anthony during the celebrations as VAR and another hard offside saved Brighton.
Burnley continued to press, but clever saves from Bert Verbruggen to deny Jeanne Fleming twice kept their clean sheet intact.
Wiefer then side-footed home his second goal of the afternoon with a minute remaining, sealing Fabian Hürzeler’s side’s fifth win in their last six games in the top flight.
With this victory, Brighton currently sit in 9th place, two points behind sixth-placed Chelsea and three points behind Liverpool, as they continue to challenge for European football next season.
Coach Hürzeler said after the match: “I don’t really like to talk about Europe, but that’s a problem. We’re known as a well-organized club, but we’re not known for being ambitious.”
“We want to be that and we want to achieve something. We are confident that we can do it. We need to understand that we need to earn the right to compete with the top teams. If we get the consistency right, we can compete with the big teams. The key is consistency.”
Their next match will be against Tottenham, another relegation contending team, on April 18th, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Meanwhile, Burnley’s return to the Championship looks all but certain, with the Clarets still 12 points clear of almost inevitable relegation.
Burnley manager Scott Parker said: “We’re getting closer to that (relegation), there’s no denying that.”
“We are running out of games. We are playing Tottenham, West Ham and Nottingham Forest. This shows the level. Those teams are accumulating points and we are not.”
Mats Wiefer (second from left) celebrating a goal with his teammates
Hürzeler: “We were lucky there was an offside call”
Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler:
“It wasn’t the best game for us. We kept a clean sheet but struggled, especially with set pieces. We were lucky that there was a tough offside call.”
“I think we could have scored more goals because we created a lot of danger. We were there in important moments, but of course they can beat any team in the league.”
“There are no easy games because the Premier League is very competitive, but games like this are important.”
Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler wins 2-0 against Burnley
Parker criticizes reliance on VAR and ‘robots’ in soccer
Burnley manager Scott Parker:
“I didn’t think there was too much in the game. The goal came at the wrong time and we were playing in very good form and against a very good team.
“In the second half we did really well. As I always say, we lacked the fine margin again. It was VAR and two offside goals, a kneecap and a sleeve. We were nearing the end of a bad result.
“I’ve seen them fight back. Certainly, the second shot doesn’t look like it’s offside. We’re in a world of technology. If a computer or a robot says it’s offside, we just accept it. To me, it doesn’t look like that.”
“That’s just the way it is. That’s the way it is at the moment. I don’t think the team lacked energy or effort. In important moments, we get punished.”
Jadon Anthony’s goal canceled out at Burnley
Brighton push towards Championship despite Burnley limping
Patrick Lowe of Sky Sports:
“It wasn’t a great game against Brighton and it ultimately took an unlikely candidate in Mats Wiefer to make the difference on the afternoon.
“Wiefer had only scored one goal for the Seagulls before the trip to Turf Moor, but he tripled his tally for the club to secure all three points.
“There was some faint booing from the full-time Burnley fans, but as I said, the feeling was more indifference than frustration.
“With six games remaining, the club is 12 points adrift and relegation to the Championship is almost certain.
“Brighton, on the other hand, continue to progress and remain within reach of the top five. They could not have sneaked into a Champions League spot, could they?
“Their form, with five wins from their last six games in the top flight, suggests that may be the case. Liverpool are struggling, sitting three points adrift, and Chelsea could slip into sixth place.”
“There’s a lot to play for at the Amex and then Tottenham.”
