Brighton & Hove Albion 0-0 Burnley: Premier League strugglers play out draw

Danny Welbeck could not find a way through on his first start for Brighton

Burnley manager Sean Dyche said "it needs to come quickly" as they look "to get on the right side of the margins" after a goalless draw with fellow strugglers Brighton.

The Clarets, having their worst ever start to a top-flight season, are on two points from seven games, while the Seagulls have not won in six league games.

Burnley's best chance was accidental as Matt Lowton's deep cross flew over Mat Ryan but hit the crossbar.

Brighton dominated as they often do but could not beat Nick Pope in Burnley's goal. Pope did well to deny Danny Welbeck on his first start for Brighton.

This was a game that will have not been watched by many - behind closed doors and on pay-per-view - and that is probably for the best.

"We didn't create as much as we'd like," Dyche told BBC Sport. "I thought the mentality was right. We looked more like ourselves with our defensive shape and urgency.

"We know we have to create better chances but it's a base to build on. We're never a million miles away. We're getting closer."

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Different styles, same disappointing result

This was always going to be a game of contrasting approaches - Graham Potter's ball-playing Brighton against Sean Dyche's pragmatic Burnley, and so it proved.

This is Burnley's joint-worst start to a league season, along with 1977-78 when they were in the second tier. The last time they failed to win their opening seven games, back in 2014-15, they were relegated.

The big positive was the return of captain Ben Mee for his first appearance of the season following a thigh injury.

But there was little to cheer on the pitch, with Chris Wood heading the ball at Ryan in their only shot on target and Robbie Brady putting a bicycle kick wide.

You always know what you will get with Brighton - they passed 100 Premier League shots for the season in this game. Only Liverpool have had more. They rank sixth in the league for possession too.

But they nearly always fail to take their chances.

Tariq Lamptey had an opportunity to put them ahead after 60 seconds but fired over from Welbeck's lay-off.

Welbeck was sent into the box by Neal Maupay - back after being left out last weekend for disciplinary reasons - but his shot was saved by Pope.

They ended with 19 shots, but nine of them were blocked. Adam Webster headed over and Maupay hit the target, but it felt as if both teams could be there all day and not score.

"You've got to score," Potter said. "That was the only thing missing from our performance. We restricted Burnley to pretty much nothing.

"Performance-wise, I'm really happy. We're always looking to improve. It's disappointing to only get one point.

"The team gave everything. We were playing a dangerous opponent but we had a good control of things."

The two 0-0 kings - match stats

• Brighton had 19 shots - the most by any side without managing to score in any Premier League match this season so far.

• Burnley's tally of two points is their joint-lowest after their first seven league games of a season in their history (D2 L5), along with 1977-78 in the second tier (assuming three points for a win all-time).

• Since they were promoted to the Premier League in 2017, Brighton have played out more goalless draws in the competition than any other side (12), while Burnley are also second for most top-flight 0-0s in this time (11).

• Brighton have picked up six points in their eight Premier League games this season (W1 D3 L4), their lowest tally after their first eight matches of a league campaign since 2002-03 (four points), when they were eventually relegated from the second tier.

• Burnley have failed to score in four consecutive Premier League matches for the first time since May 2015 (six in a row).

• Brighton had 12 shots in the first half against Burnley, the most the Seagulls have ever attempted in the opening 45 minutes of a Premier League game.

What's next?

It is the international break now - with both sides back in action on Saturday, 21 November at 15:00 GMT. Burnley host Crystal Palace and Brighton visit Aston Villa.

• Watch 13 first-round ties on iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app this weekend. Find out more here.