Burnley 1 Brighton 1
By Longsider
April 18 2005
Press reports of our game against Brighton on Saturday. We can bring you reports from the Sporting Life and the Daily Telegraph.
Burnley 1 Brighton 1
Dean Hammond salvaged a point for Brighton in a classic game of two halves against Burnley at Turf Moor, but it was not enough to lift the Seagulls out of the bottom three.
Hammond's 52nd-minute strike cancelled out Ade Akinbiyi's first home goal for Burnley, who could have been out of sight by half time but for some wasteful finishing.
Brighton began the game in the relegation zone and throughout the first half looked very much like a team who had lost their last five matches away from home, but in the second period they improved greatly.
Considering both sides had scored an average of less than a goal per game this season, it was no surprise they were shot-shy in the early stages and 14 minutes had elapsed when the first effort came. Brighton's Charlie Oatway got his head to a Richard Carpenter corner but could only send the ball wide.
Burnley's first real threat almost resulted in them taking the lead but they were denied by their opponents' on-loan Southampton goalkeeper Alan Blayney, who kept out a close-range Graham Branch header from a Michael Duff cross.
But two minutes later Blayney could not stop Akinbiyi from putting his side ahead. On-loan Ipswich midfielder Dean Bowditch crossed from the right and the former Stoke striker put an angled header across the goalkeeper and into the corner of the net.
The goal boosted the hosts' confidence and after Mo Camara had a free-kick held by Blayney, Duff missed a great opportunity to extend the advantage when he headed wide from another Bowditch cross.
Brighton were grateful to Blayney when he produced a terrific block from Branch, while James O'Connor spurned a great chance to put the Clarets further ahead when he dragged the ball wide.
Steve Cotterill's side were now completely dominant and carving apart the visitors at will, but Tony Grant volleyed off target from another fine opening to leave Brighton with some hope for the second half.
Mark McGhee made a half-time substitution to try and turn things around, sending on Jake Robinson for Mark McCammon, but it was two players who had been on from the start without previously having any influence who combined for the equaliser six minutes after the restart.
Paul Reid got to the byline on the right and sent over a cross which Hammond converted for only his second goal of the campaign.
Two minutes later, Hammond was in again but this time headed the ball against the woodwork.
At the other end, Akinbiyi went close to a second goal when he volleyed off target with the impressive Bowditch again the provider.
Neither team appeared content to settle for a point and after Reid had volleyed wide, O'Connor missed his second glorious chance when he headed wide from a cross by substitute Lee Roche eight minutes from time.
Teams
Burnley Coyne, Duff (Roche 75), McGreal, Cahill, Camara, O'Connor, Grant, Hyde, Branch, Akinbiyi, Bowditch.
Subs Not Used: Oster, Jensen, Pilkington, Valois.
Booked: Cahill.
Goals: Akinbiyi 23.
Brighton Blayney, Virgo, El-Abd, Butters, Reid, Harding, Carpenter, Oatway, Hammond, McCammon (Robinson 45), McPhee.
Subs Not Used: Mayo, Dolan, Nicolas, Shaaban.
Booked: Reid.
Goals: Hammond 52.
Att: 11,611
Ref: S Mathieson (Cheshire).
Clash with coach has McCammon off bus
Daily Telegraph
Brighton appear certain to order disciplinary proceedings following a dispute between manager Mark McGhee and striker Mark McCammon.
McCammon, who was unhappy following his half-time substitution, found his own way back from Turf Moor after he was ordered to leave the team coach by McGhee.
McCammon was disgruntled at being replaced when Brighton trailed to a 23rd-minute goal from Ade Akinbiyi. McCammon's belief was that he had been given insufficient service from his captain, Charlie Oatway, although McGhee stressed after the match that he saw his forwards as being most culpable in the first half.
McCammon was first to board the team coach for the return home, but was ordered to leave by McGhee and then rejected the offer of a lift in the van that carried the team's kit. He was last seen disappearing towards the Burnley town centre and could now face disciplinary action.
The incident overshadowed a rousing second-half comeback to a game Brighton might ultimately have won, not least through the contribution of Jake Robinson, McCammon's half-time replacement. However, McGhee's men were equally fortunate not to have been overwhelmed by the home side in the opening 45 minutes when only splendid saves by Alan Blayney from Graham Branch (twice) and Mo Camara, plus Burnley's own profligacy, prevented an avalanche of goals.
A remarkable second-half transformation enabled Brighton to achieve parity, Dean Hammond finishing effectively after Paul Reid crossed from the right.
Burnley (4-1-4-1): Coyne; Duff (Roche 75), Cahill, McGreal, Camara; Grant; Bowditch, Hyde, O'Connor, Branch; Akinbiyi.
Subs: Jensen (g), Oster, Pilkington, Valois.
Goal: Akinbiyi (23).
Booked: Cahill.
Brighton (3-5-2): Blayney; El-Abd, Virgo, Butters; Reid, Oatway, Carpenter, Hammond, Harding; McPhee, McCammon (Robinson h-t). Subs: Shaaban (g), Mayo, Dolan, Nicolas.
Goal: Hammond (52).
Booked: Reid.
Referee: S Mathieson (Stockport).