Albion top scorer Joao Pedro was the toast of the bet365 Stadium and its media lounge after the 4-2 FA Cup victory away to Stoke City.
Joe Bernstein, the experienced Mail on Sunday man, led the praise. “Joao Pedro has to be under consideration for signing of the season after a finishing masterclass dug Brighton out of a sticky spot,” he wrote.
“The 22-year-old Brazil international cost the Seagulls £30million from Watford – less than half what Manchester United paid for Rasmus Hojlund. Saturday's match-winning double took his goal tally to 15 after Championship Stoke had taken the lead and were still threatening an upset at 2-2 with 20 minutes left.
“Then, Pedro hung in the air to head home Pascal Gross’ cross after 71 minutes. Nine minutes later he turned fox-in-the-box to slide in and convert Paul van Hecke’s cutback.
“If he keeps it up, Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi could match last year’s run to the semi-final which ended on penalties against Manchester United. Even so, the Italian is a hard man to please and wants more from his in-form striker.”
Joao Pedro made it 15 goals for the campaign with his brace against Stoke.
Ian Whittell, writing for The Sunday Telegraph, was another who felt Albion have enough quality in the squad for a second successive trip to Wembley – or more.
“Two late goals from Joao Pedro left his manager Roberto De Zerbi dancing with delight after a victory that showed his team may well have the resilience to deliver Brighton their first ever silverware this season,” he wrote.
“The FA Cup, or the Europa League in which they have reached the last 16, offer such possibility although, as they fell behind to an opening goal from Stoke and, later, saw themselves pegged back at 2-2, that looked a big ask.
“But, on 71 minutes, defender Jan Paul van Hecke laid the ball off for Pascal Gross who claimed his second assist of the half with a well-weighted cross which Pedro headed in emphatically. And, nine minutes later, van Hecke made further amends for his earlier own goal with a run into the stretched ranks of the Stoke defence and a cross which Pedro slid in to turn into the home net.
“With two semi-final appearances in the past five seasons, and defeat only by penalties to Manchester United a year ago, there is enough pedigree in Brighton’s recent history to explain why supporters, and presumably De Zerbi himself, see the competition as a genuine and realistic target.”
On the BBC website, regular Albion-watcher Simon Stone especially enjoyed Albion’s first goal.
“De Zerbi knows it is a fact of life at Brighton that their players get courted by the biggest clubs each summer,” he wrote. “Pervis Estupinan and Joao Pedro are certain to be targeted in 2024.
“The former cost the Seagulls £15m when he joined them from Villarreal 18 months ago. It is fair to assume the fee would be significantly higher if anyone can persuade Brighton to sell a player who still has three-and-a-half years left on his contract.
“Against Tottenham on 28 December, the 25-year-old arguably scored the Premier League goal of the Christmas period with his spectacular dipping effort against Tottenham. His latest strike was not quite in that category but it was still sensational.
“Controlling a nod down from Billy Gilmour, Estupinan read the bounce before delivering a ferocious shot into the corner from 25 yards. It was a goal to grace any game and underlined what Brighton have been missing during his three month absence with knee and hamstring problems.
The travelling Albion supporters were well rewarded for their trip to Stoke.
“While De Zerbi's decision to replace Joao Pedro with Adam Lallana seven minutes from time denied him the possibility of a hat-trick, his second double in three indicates a man in form as Brighton begin a break that extends to an unprecedented 16 days before they entertain Wolves on 22 January.”
With the January transfer window open, Will Unwin of The Observer could not resist the temptation to speculate about the future of Albion’s record signing, as well as our Ecuador left back.
“Like any Brighton signing, João Pedro is being groomed to be sold on for profit,” he wrote. “The forward has quickly become an integral part of the forward line after joining from Watford in the summer. The Brazilian helped Brighton avoid a replay, giving them 16 days – including a trip to Dubai – to prepare for their next match, on 22 January against Wolves.
A great piece of play by Jan Paul van Hecke setup Joao Pedro to extend Albion's lead.
“Pervis Estupiñán is another South American catching the eyes of those with deeper pockets than Brighton as most will not be able to afford his exquisite left foot. He rifled his second stunning goal in three matches in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time to bring much-need momentum going into the break.
“Gross got the charge back on track with another superb cross, this time from the right, to pick out the onrushing João Pedro to head into the corner. Alongside his Brazilian colleague, the German Gross provided the moments of quality often lacking in the match to make the difference and inflict a first defeat on the new Stoke manager, Steven Schumacher.
“Van Hecke strode forward to make amends for his own goal with a typical Brighton piece of football as he ran from central defence to latch on to a pass in the final third and square for João Pedro to slide home. It is the first time a Brighton player has scored 15 in a season since Glenn Murray in 2018-19, giving the Seagulls the consistent striker they have often lacked, although his manager is ready to challenge him for more as they aim for a Wembley return.”