Vote for your WeAreBrighton.com Player of the Month for October 2018
Brighton and Hove Albion climbed to the dizzy heights of 11th in the Premier League after three wins from three games in an impressive October.
The Albion didn’t concede a goal along the way, which means that the shortlist features three defenders in Lewis Dunk, Shane Duffy and captain Bruno as well as goalkeeper Maty Ryan.
Bruno was recalled for the home game against West Ham United, which led to the Albion recording their first clean sheet of the season.
Dunk and Duffy both signed new contracts on the day after the victory over the Hammers and Dunk then received his first call up to the England squad to complete a brilliant weekend. The Albion’s defensive duo then went onto make 34 clearances between them in the victory over Newcastle United.
Ryan meanwhile gave one of the greatest individual goalkeeping performances in recent memory to keep Wolverhampton Wanderers at bay in the months final game. The Australian number one had been in similarly impervious form at St James’ Park the previous week.
The shortlist is rounded off by Glenn Murray and Beram Kayal. Murray’s goals won the games against West Ham and Wolves, becoming only the second ever Albion player to hit a century for the club in the process and Kayal found himself given three rare starts in the absence of firstly Dale Stephens and then Davy Propper, grabbing the opportunity given to him with both hands.
Bruno
When are we going to learn to stop writing him off? It looked like Martin Montoya would be the Albion’s first choice right back going forward, but the captain returned for the home game against West Ham and we haven’t conceded a goal since.
Shane Duffy
Made 19 clearances in the victory away at St James’ Park which went a long way towards helping secure victory in the North East. He also set a record for most international caps won while with the Albion, making his 16th appearance for the Republic of Ireland as a Brighton player.
Lewis Dunk
His first call up to the England squad seemed to be based more on last seasons form than the way he’d played so far in 2018-19 – but being with Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions rejuvenated him and he had arguably his best month as a Premier League player so far.
Beram Kayal
A few eyebrows were raised when he signed a new deal towards the end of September with plenty of supporters saying that an upgrade on Kayal was a necessity for the Albion to progress. He silenced those doubters with three quality performances in midfield, offering a driving force in the middle of the park. He even managed to get on the score sheet at Newcastle.
Glenn Murray
Scored the winner against West Ham, stretchered off with concussion away at Newcastle, returned to score the winner against Wolves. Only Eden Hazard and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have more Premier League goals so far this season. Nothing else to be said, really.
Maty Ryan
Outstanding in every game but against Wolves especially. There must be something about playing the Old Gold that brings out the best in Brighton goalkeepers and his showing against them was every bit as impressive as Michel Kuipers’ legendary showing at Molineux in 2002. That’s high praise indeed.
Polls close at 8pm on Sunday 4th November
