Clarets Mad - Clarets v Seagulls, English Premier League Match Preview.
Venue: The American Express Community Stadium, Village Way, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9BL.
Kick-off – 15.00 - 9th December 2023.

Sean Dyche’s constant message that the English Premier League is full of games decided by “fine margins” certainly rang true at Molineux on Tuesday night. Burnley had one good chance and missed it, Wolves had one equally good chance and scored it.

Another three points went begging for the Clarets in a game they probably should have taken at least a point from. While Saturday’s opponents who currently sit in eighth place, with 25 points from 14 games are red hot favourites to win the encounter there is at least on paper hope of a Clarets away goal.

Games are of course not played on paper, but Brighton’s 2-1 win over Brentford on Wednesday night meant the Seagulls are the first team to score and concede in each of their opening 15 games of a top-flight campaign since Burnley’s Tuesday night’s opponents Wolves did so way back in the 1934/35 season. It is hoped for burley fans the Clarets can at least extend the Seagulls unfortunate habit of conceding goals.

One’s to watch: Zeki Amdouni continues to impress for the Clarets and while Luca Koleosho looks likely to be side-lined through injury, opportunity knocks for the likes of Wilson Odobert and Mike Tresor. Last season’s Championship winning heroes Manuel Benson and Anass Zaroury look likely to remain out in the cold. It’s a funny old game is football.

For the Seagulls Pascal Gross, Danny Welbeck and Deniz Undav are part of a large Brighton contingent of highly skilled and seasoned Premier League professionals who epitomise everything Burnley’s young team are missing.

Verdict: I see nothing other than a 3-1 home win and next up for the Clarets will see ex-manager Sean Dyche bring Everton to Turf Moor.

Footnote: In the days long before VAR and goal-line technology I recall Michael Keane having a goal not given by hapless officials at Brighton. It seems to me like goal-line technology must be retained at all costs while VAR and the ridiculous decisions it conspires to produce must be consigned to the dustbin. (TEC).

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