Scott Parker Cries Betrayal as Burnley Crumble Against Brighton

Burnley's Struggles Continue as Manager Scott Parker Condemns Lack of Belief

Burnley manager Scott Parker has openly criticized his players for their lack of belief and poor performance in a 2-0 Premier League defeat against Brighton. The match, described by Parker as a "powderpuff" display, saw the second-bottom Clarets fall to an 11th consecutive top-flight game without a win. Goals from Georginio Rutter and Yasin Ayari secured the victory for Brighton, leaving Burnley in a dire position.

Parker, who is confident he still has the support of the club’s owners, admits that the team is certain to face relegation if they do not show improvement. Despite earning only two points from a possible 33 since October, Burnley remains just six points behind 17th-placed Nottingham Forest. However, the current form of the team is raising serious concerns.

"We lacked belief and I didn’t feel for one second that it was a team or group that ever believed they could come here and get a result really," said Parker. "You can lose football matches but there are ways of losing and I just felt we looked at times powderpuff."

The manager emphasized that Burnley did not deserve anything from the game due to their general approach and body language. He highlighted that the team failed to show the necessary qualities to compete at the highest level. "If you perform like we did today, you ain’t collecting enough points to stay in this division, no chance."

Key Moments from the Match

Lucas Pires had a chance to equalize after Rutter opened the scoring in the 29th minute, but the effort did not materialize into a goal. Later in the second half, substitute Loum Tchaouna headed the ball towards the crossbar, which was saved by Ferdi Kadioglu. However, Burnley struggled to create meaningful chances throughout the game.

The Clarets were outplayed on a bitterly cold afternoon at the Amex Stadium, with Brighton dominating possession and control. The defeat further highlights the challenges facing Burnley as they look to avoid relegation.

Parker's Commitment and Future

When asked about his future, Parker stated that it is out of his hands. He expressed confidence in the support from the club’s ownership and everyone at the football club. "I’m fully committed and I feel like everyone at the football club is as well. We’re all hurting, we’re all disappointed but we’ll keep going."

Despite the recent struggles, Parker led Burnley to promotion last season, showing that the team has the potential to perform better. However, the current situation demands immediate improvement.

Brighton's Rise and Manager's Comments

Brighton, on the other hand, celebrated a significant win that lifted them to eighth place in the league table. The Seagulls ended a six-match winless run, moving up from 14th place after earning only three points from 18 available during December.

Albion head coach Fabian Hurzeler praised the team's effort and unity throughout the difficult period. "The run wasn’t great but we always stuck together. We had good performances in this run, we had some not so good performances. But overall I think the effort from the players, the effort from the staff, how we work together, it’s always good, it’s always like we want to have it."

Hurzeler emphasized the importance of hard work and perseverance. "I always emphasize that when you work hard at one point you get what you deserve and that’s what we have to keep doing. It was a good game, not a great game, we controlled the game. We kept a clean sheet, we created chances, we could score more goals, but overall we are pleased."

Looking Ahead

As Burnley continues to face challenges, the focus will be on whether they can turn their fortunes around. With the pressure mounting, the team must find the belief and determination to fight for survival. For Brighton, the win provides a much-needed boost as they aim to maintain their position in the league.