Brighton and Hove Albion manager Graham Potter hails midfielder’s ‘miracle’ goal

Brighton and Hove Albion manager Graham Potter has hailed Yves Bissouma’s ‘miracle’ goal against Burnley, which helped secure the Seagulls’ highest ever points tally (41) in the Premier League. 
Brighton head coach Graham PotterBrighton head coach Graham Potter
Brighton head coach Graham Potter

Brighton boss Graham Potter said: “It was a really satisfying performance and result and an important three points for us to finish the season.

“I said to Yves in the dressing room ‘it’s a miracle we have witnessed’. He’s got quality and we are so pleased with him. He has been working hard and has got the ability to score from there.”

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“We wanted to end it strongly and three points here have come against a team that aren’t easy to take points off.

“I am delighted for the players. It’s the reward for the work they have done and it’s nice to finish ahead of the break with a win.”

After a slow start from both teams, who both had little at stake in terms of the result, Bissouma opened the scoring in the 20th minute.

The midfielder initially lost the ball in a good position 30 yards from the Burnley goal, but eventually won it back and hit an unbelievable long-range effort which flew into the top left corner of Nick Pope’s goal.
Burnley came back and equalised on the stroke of half-time (44’) with their first clear-cut chance of the game through striker Chris Wood.

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A lofty ball over the top of the Brighton defence by Erik Pieters saw Wood bring the ball down with a lovely first touch on his right foot and coolly slot home with his left past Maty Ryan to make it 1-1. 

After the break, Aaron Connolly got his third Premier League goal of the season - his first since a brace against Tottenham in October - in the 50th minute after some trademark chasing down and blistering pace. 

The 20-year-old latched onto a ball down the left wing, leaving Burnley full back Kevin Long for dead, and then found the composure to open up his body in the box and squeeze in an effort from a tight angle into the far corner of Pope’s goal.

Brighton’s goals meant Nick Pope lost out to Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson for the golden glove award on the final day of the season, after the latter ended the campaign on 16 clean sheets and the former on 15. 

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Burnley manager Sean Dyche said: “He [Pope] had a chance to get a share of the golden glove, and a worldie is their first goal and it was a soft second from us defensively in front of him.

“I would have liked to have seen him get a share of that and that hasn’t happened.”

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