SEAN Dyche praised his players in recovering from the shock of an early goal to protect their own unbeaten run, even though they could not stop Brighton’s.

The high flying Seagulls stretched their unbeaten start to in the Championship to 17 games with yesterday’s 1-1 draw at Turf Moor.

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Bobby Zamora was called into Brighton’s starting line-up and had an instant impact, scoring inside a minute after being the first to react when Tomer Hemed hit the crossbar.

But Burnley hit back in the fourth, when Lewis Dunk pulled Michael Keane’s shirt in the box and top scorer Andre Gray converted from the penalty spot for his 11th of the season and keep the Clarets unbeaten in eight.

“I thought they got a very fortuitous start - I’ve seen it back and every time we blocked it, it seemed to land perfectly for their player,” said Dyche.

“I won’t be too critical of my players for that, sometimes they are the breaks you need to get a goal.

“But our reaction, as ever, was first class - a definite penalty, which is good because we’ve had a lot not given this season, and then after that, the game was pretty even first half.

“Second half, on chances, we were productive, we had the best chances to go and win it, but they are a good side, they’ve made a mark for themselves by being unbeaten.

“I’m pleased they haven’t really tested Tom (Heaton), which is a good sign of the defensive framework of the team, and we’ve opened up enough chances to win the game.

“But it was a very close game between two good sides.”

And Dyche, who left Sam Vokes out following the groin strain he picked up at Wolves a fortnight ago, said he was pleased with his players’ character.

“The good thing I like about this group is they don’t take knocks to heart, they react immediately, and we did,” he said.

“We were immediately productive to win a corner, we get a penalty, which you can’t guarantee, but the whole feel of the game - I thought we were on the front foot for a lot of the game, and against a good side.

“We lost a player who has been very important to us right at the last minute, which didn’t put us out of our stride, which I was pleased with.

“That shows a good mentality yet again, and I like a lot of what the group did.

“(If) you take your chances, and you win the game.”

Burnley had their fair share late on, with the best falling to Scott Arfield, and Dyche added: “It was very good play for Scotty to whip one past the far corner, he had the crowd on their feet; then the great chance when Andre did well to get into the corner. I will remind everyone, they might question the finish, but it was Scotty getting on the end of his own pass - fantastic mentally and physically to do that.

“Chris Long had a glimmer of a chance with a little toe poke, and their keeper made an unbelievable save in the first half from short distance from Rouwen (Hennings) after good play from George Boyd.

“That’s four, and usually four is enough, but it wasn’t today.”