Brighton remain four points adrift of Burnley, the Championship leaders, after Michael Keane headed a last-minute equaliser from a corner in front of a full house that ended in controversy and drama.
It would have been rough justice had Burnley lost a league game for the first time since Boxing Day. Moments earlier Keane had been denied a goal, also from a corner by the substitute Matthew Taylor. Television replays showed that the ball had crossed the line after first hitting Jamie Murphy and then spinning back to strike the Brighton substitute Steve Sidwell.
Sean Dyche, the Burnley manager, said: “It was a clear goal. We all know that if every player on the pitch reacts like that it is a goal. When it’s that obvious it has to be given. With so much at stake nowadays goalline technology must eventually drip-feed into the Championship.”
The result was frustrating for Brighton, who had seen Middlesbrough leapfrog over them into second place on Friday night after their win at Queens Park Rangers. Brighton will travel to Middlesbrough on the last day of the season in their bid to become the third club from the south coast to play in the Premier League, a scenario that 12 months ago was about as likely as Leicester winning the title.
On another day the goal Anthony Knockaert scored just before the break would have been a worthy winner for the Seagulls. The weather was more Barcelona than Brighton and the Frenchman’s footwork had a touch of the Lionel Messi’s about it. Left out for the win at MK Dons, Knockaert proved a point to his manager, Chris Hughton, and was a menace on Brighton’s right flank all afternoon.
Burnley had looked the side most likely to break the deadlock after a cagey first half-hour, but Dale Stephens found room at the far post after the Burnley full-back Matt Lowton had headed Knockaert’s corner into his path. Stephens took full advantage to steal in and beat Tom Heaton. Up until then Knockaert had kept Burnley’s defence honest, but his crossing had been less than effective. This time his delivery was perfect.
Burnley, though, took less than three minutes to bite back and their equaliser was also from a set-piece. Brighton failed to deal with a corner from David Jones and the ball rebounded to Andre Gray who swept home his 21st goal of the season from inside the six-yard box.
Tomer Hemed had the best chance of the half, but blasted the ball wide after a good run by his fellow Israel international Beram Kayal had prised open the defence. Heaton then had to make a smart save from Kayal to prevent Brighton regaining their lead.
Brighton suffered a blow just before the break when Hemed’s forward partner, Sam Baldock, limped off with a hamstring injury but Brighton were soon ahead again. Knockaert turned the defence inside out before beating Heaton on his near post again with an unstoppable rising shot.
After the break Kayal continued to control the midfield before a clumsy challenge from Joey Barton left him receiving treatment in front of Dyche, who had spent most of the first half moaning at the fourth official, Darren Deadman, and who oddly now turned his ire on Kayal. Dyche was upset at an earlier challenge by Knockaert.
Barton, in full pantomime villain mode, was booed by the home fans every time he touched the ball and the two collided again soon afterwards to spark another row on the touchline.
Sam Vokes headed a chance to equalise wide and Dyche brought on the former Brighton favourite Ashley Barnes. Four seasons ago, the referee, Craig Pawson, had sent Barnes off here in a game against Burnley.
