Mark Lawrenson lauds Brighton's defensive efforts and makes Burnley scoreline prediction

Brighton & Hove Albion are back in Premier League action this weekend, when they take on Sean Dyche's Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday afternoon.
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Adam Webster of Brighton and Hove Albion is challenged by Chris Wood of Burnley during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Burnley at American Express Community Stadium on November 06, 2020 in Brighton, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Adam Webster of Brighton and Hove Albion is challenged by Chris Wood of Burnley during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Burnley at American Express Community Stadium on November 06, 2020 in Brighton, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Adam Webster of Brighton and Hove Albion is challenged by Chris Wood of Burnley during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Burnley at American Express Community Stadium on November 06, 2020 in Brighton, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Writing his weekly predictions column for BBC Sport, former Seagulls star Mark Lawrenson international backed a 1-1 draw between the two closely-matched sides.

Explaining his pick, Lawro contended: "Burnley did not lie down against Manchester City, but it was all pretty comfortable for Pep Guardiola's side once they had their early goal.

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"Brighton, meanwhile, got their famous win at Anfield on the same night. The last time they won there in the league, in March 1982, I was playing against them for Liverpool - so it has been a long wait."

He continued: "The Seagulls have won three of their past four league games, and drew the other one. As well as being on a very good run of results they are conceding very few goals - they have kept a clean sheet in all of those matches.

"This should be a close game, but both teams have climbed away from the relegation zone in recent weeks and a point would be a decent result for both of them."

Meanwhile, Lawro's celebrity competitor for the week, TV presenter Gethin Jones, went for a 1-0 away win for Graham Potter's in-form side.

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The last time the two sides met, back in November, they played out a goalless draw at the AMEX Stadium, where a typically hardy defensive display from Dyche's side saw them grind out another important point on the road.