The Media Review: A point against the Bees

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Nick Szczepanik

2024-12-28T10:30+00:00

Joao Pedro. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

The Daily Mirror reporter probably got it right when he wrote of Albion’s goalless draw at home to Brentford, “the sea fog that hung over the American Express Stadium couldn’t hide a contest that will have been lost from the memory long before the New Year rolls in.”

And he was almost certainly correct in suggesting that a late substitution will be what most fans will take away from a frustrating evening.

“A game that promised much in a bright opening half-hour eventually drifted into a nothingness save for a heartwarming cameo appearance by Brighton’s Solly March. He narrowly failed to deliver a fairy-tale ending when his injury-time shot after cutting inside and shooting just over the Brentford bar.”

Ed Aarons of The Guardian was another to pick out Solly’s return as a high point. “When Brighton produced a stirring comeback here back at the start of November to beat Manchester City and move into the top four, Fabian Hürzeler could have been forgiven for thinking that being a Premier League manager is a pretty straightforward business,” he wrote. “Yet after another disappointing performance from his side that made it six matches without a victory and allowed Brentford to pick up only their second away point of the season, the 31-year-old is being forced to confront reality.

Thomas Frank and Fabian Hurzeler before the game. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

“Despite creating a plethora of chances, Brighton couldn’t find a way past Thomas Frank’s battling side, who lost their goalkeeper Mark Flekken to injury in the first half and handed a Premier League debut to Hákon Valdimarsson. For all their positivity and possession under Hürzeler, in the absence of top scorer Danny Welbeck – who has been sidelined during their winless run with an ankle injury – Brighton lack a cutting edge in attack that was exposed again.

“In the dying stages, Hurzeler turned to Solly March, who came on for the first time since rupturing his cruciate ligament in October 2023 and the 30-year-old got the biggest reception of the night but there was no time for a festive miracle, as his last gasp effort flew over.”

Aadam Patel of The Daily Mail picked out a couple of stats. “Since their last victory on November 23, the Seagulls have plummeted from second to tenth,” he wrote. “This should have been the ideal game for them against a Brentford side that went into this clash on the south coast with just one point on the road all season.

“Brighton were wasteful from the outset with Julio Enciso having eight attempts on goal in the first half alone - the last Premier League player to do that was Luis Suarez in 2013. The 20-year-old’s evening was summed up by a shot that almost went out for a throw-in. His last goal - which won Premier League goal of the season - came in May 2023.

“In the 36th minute, Brentford keeper Mark Flekken was forced off with a hamstring injury and replaced by Hakon Valdimarsson, who made his Premier League debut. Flekken made six saves in a busy first-half and his Icelandic replacement was equal to the task for the remainder of the game.”

The Sun’s man at the Amex wrote that "these two clubs’ winless streaks go on, but injury-hit Brentford will be happier with the draw than Brighton. They are without a victory anywhere in six successive games - all against teams who had been in the bottom half of the table when they played them. The Seagulls’ temporary rise up to second place in the table at the back end of last month is becoming a distant memory.

Action from Albion's festive fixture against Brentford. Highlights in partnership with @mpbcom. Buy, sell and trade used camera gear. https://bit.ly/MPB457

“The Bees rolled up at a misty Amex Stadium without nine injured players and it was ten by half time as goalkeeper Mark Flekken limped off to be replaced by Iceland stopper Hakon Valdimarsson for his Premier League debut.

“But Flekken had made his mark before being replaced. Brighton went in search of goals from the kick-off and were nearly ahead after four minutes. Carlos Baleba picked off a poor pass out Flekken and fed striker Joao Pedro. The Brazilian teed up Julio Enciso, whose curler beat Flekken’s left hand but smacked back off the post.

“Then Baleba sent Flekken full-length with a snap shot from the edge of the penalty area, and Enciso tested Flekken with a header from Kaoru Mitoma’s cross.

“To Albion fans this felt a bit like the same old story of recent matches, as they were dominating possession but could not make that dominance tell in the form of goals.

“The home side had scored in each of their previous 13 games and boss Fabian Hurzeler threw on wingers Yankuba Minteh and Simon Adingra to try to keep that run going. But although most of the action was still in and around the Brentford penalty area, Valdimarsson was not nearly as busy as Flekken had been.”

In The Times, Ivan Speck wrote that Albion are “wondering where their sparkling autumn form has disappeared to. Brighton’s sharpness in front of goal has disappeared and with it, the certainty that comes with confidence. In its stead, hesitation and a tendency to overplay has taken over.

“In the first half alone, Brighton recorded 15 shots compared to just two from the visitors. Faced with an opportunity to test the debutant Valdimarsson’s nerves, Brighton began to over-elaborate. The exception was Mitoma’s half-volley following a corner which was struck with fierce timing but found the side netting.”