Brighton 2 Burnley 2

Last updated : 28 December 2002 By Footymad Previewer

It lifted Sidwell’s tally for the season to five, including three in two games, and cancelled out goals for Burnley by Glen Little and substitute Ian Moore.

The match did not start well for Sidwell, Brighton’s goalscoring hero in their shock 1-0 victory at Norwich on Boxing Day.

He spurned a glorious chance to break his home duck in only the second minute when he shot wide from a Bobby Zamora pass.

But it all came right in the end for the youngster, who Coppell also had on loan last season when he was in charge at Brentford.

Sidwell gave the Seagulls hope by cutting inside to crack home a right-foot shot from the edge of the box with two minutes left.

It seemed at that stage as if it would be little more than a consolation, but Burnley barely had time to draw breath before Sidwell pounced again.

He was on hand to force in Zamora’s cross from close to the goalline to pinch Brighton’s fifth draw in 11 outings.

Burnley had been well in command after Sidwell’s early miss.

Brighton keeper Michels Kuipers, unable to kick after suffering a recurrent thigh injury at Norwich, came to their rescue twice early on.

The big Dutchman blocked Gareth Taylor’s close-range drive with his legs and then made a diving one-handed stop from Little’s 20-yard shot.

Little got the better of his personal dual with Kuipers a minute before the break.

The keeper produced another fine save from his first effort, but he had no chance with the former Glentoran forward’s follow up.

The points seemed to be in the bag for Burnley when Stan Ternent, Coppell’s former assistant at Crystal Palace, made an inspired substitution.

He brought on Ian Moore for namesake Alan in the 70th minute and the substitute scored almost immediately, ramming in the rebound after his header had been blocked by a combination of Kuipers and the post.

Burnley appeared destined for their fourth away win of the campaign at that point, but Sidwell had other ideas.