Burnley suffered a 2-0 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion, extending their miserable run in the Premier League and raising serious questions over the team’s confidence and mindset. Goals from Georginio Rutter and Yasin Ayari ensured the hosts recorded a comfortable win at the Amex Stadium, while Burnley’s lack of intensity and belief was evident throughout the 90 minutes.

Parker Delivers Withering Assessment

Burnley manager Scott Parker admitted that his side’s performance was deeply concerning, highlighting a lack of belief among his players. The defeat marks Burnley’s ninth loss in 11 league games, leaving them 19th in the table, six points from safety. Parker has not seen his side secure a win since 26 October, and the loss at Brighton exposed persistent flaws in both attack and defence.

“I thought we were really poor. We didn’t deserve anything from the game,” Parker said. “There have been other games where I have said we’ve been competitive, but today was very different. We lacked a little belief, and that is worrying.”

Burnley Offer Little Resistance

Burnley managed only three shots on target, failing to test Brighton’s goalkeeper or make any sustained attacking impact. Defensive errors compounded their woes, leaving Rutter and Ayari with opportunities to capitalize. The absence of captain Josh Cullen, sidelined for the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, was evident in Burnley’s flat midfield display, which lacked cohesion and energy.

Parker emphasized the importance of mindset, saying: “The saving grace is there are six points to safety, but that is irrelevant if we perform like today. Whatever the points are, we are not going to get enough to stay up if we play like this.”

Players Echo Concerns

Sweden international Hjalmar Ekdal was equally candid, telling Sky Sports: “This game is worse than previous matches. We were weak, not there, lacking belief. We are all a bit embarrassed of ourselves. It’s a matter of mindset, character, and how we fight through the game. Today, we weren’t in it.”

Brighton, meanwhile, ended a six-match winless streak in style, with a commanding performance at home. Burnley’s inability to respond or challenge the hosts underlined the severity of their current relegation battle, and Parker’s squad must rediscover confidence and intensity if they are to avoid dropping into the Championship.

What’s Next

• Burnley: Travel to Nottingham Forest next Tuesday (20:00 GMT) in a crucial Premier League fixture as they attempt to halt the slide and claw back points toward safety.
• Brighton & Hove Albion: Continue their league campaign with home fixtures where they will aim to build on this morale-boosting victory.