WAB Brighton Power Rankings April 2023
An action packed April saw Brighton play seven times in Premier League and FA Cup. There were big victories, disappointing defeats, high-scoring draws, VAR controversy and Wembley heartbreak from 12 yards in the semi final of the world’s greatest cup competition.
Blink and you would have missed something, from the last minute penalty to rescue a draw at Brentford in the opening game of April to three different players claiming braces as Wolves were dismantled 6-0 in the final match of the month.
The intense schedule enabled a number of fringe players to impress. Julio Enciso and Facundo Buonanotte scored their first Albion goals, Deniz Undav was one of those brace baggers and in the same game against the Old Gold, Billy Gilmour delivered a midfield masterclass.
Roberto De Zerbi used 19 players in total to continue the Seagulls charge for Europe. Here are how they rated in the WAB Brighton Power Rankins for April 2023.
1) Moises Caicedo – 74.56
For the third month running, Caicedo tops the WAB Power Rankings. A powerhouse through April, his best performances came in the 2-1 win over Chelsea followed a week later by being the best player on the park in the FA Cup semi final. Many thought the January transfer window fiasco involving Arsenal would turn Caicedo’s head; instead, he has been in the form of his life since Tony Bloom said no deal to the Gunners.
2) Alexis Mac Allister – 70.76
The importance of that Caicedo and Mac Allister midfield partnership to Brighton’s success is evidenced by the World Cup winner’s second place in the April Power Rankings. Showed nerves of steel to equalise from the penalty spot in the final minute of the 3-3 draw at home to Brentford and ran the show against Chelsea.
3) Pascal Gross – 70.25
You could make a case for eight or nine players deserving to being voted WAB Player of the Month for April 2023. That it went to Gross tells you how good he was over the seven games. Two goals and two assists as he veered seamlessly from midfield to right back to midfield again. His second goal against Wolves will live long in the memory.
4) Kaoru Mitoma – 70.13
To the naked eye, there appeared to be a drop off in Mitoma’s performance levels through April. This was put down to either tiredness or full backs like Aaron Wan-Bissaka figuring him out. These numbers though suggest otherwise, with Mitoma scored as the fourth best player in the month.
5) Danny Welbeck – 69.49
Welbz is Dat Guy. Scored against Brentford. Scored against Chelsea. Scored twice against Wolves. His form was particularly welcome with Evan Ferguson ruled out of the final three games of the month through injury.
6) Solly March – 68.61
It was especially cruel that March was the man to miss the pivotal penalty against Manchester United as he has enjoyed an outstanding campaign. That should not overshadow what was otherwise another fine month which brought three assists.
7) Julio Enciso – 68.35
What we saw in April was a more mature, stronger Enciso who suddenly began making the right decisions. Calmness personified when virtually walking the ball into the net for the Albion’s second goal in the 2-0 win over Plucky Little Bournemouth. His stunner from 35 yards at Chelsea was a Goal of the Season contender and he was involved in four of the six Brighton stuck past Wolves.
8) Lewis Dunk – 68.35
His three best performances came against Spurs, Chelsea and United. Telling that the Brighton captain shines brightest when facing the likes of Harry Kane, Anthony Martial and on the biggest stage at Wembley – proving that he should have played many more times at the home of football in an England shirt.
9) Pervis Estupinan – 65.06
Not at his swashbuckling best and found himself hauled in the 3-1 defeat against Nottingham Forest with March taking over at left back. Nobody could blame Estupinan for being knackered though; he has barely missed a game under De Zerbi and was one of only four players to start all seven matches in April along with Dunk, Gross and March.
10) Joel Veltman – 56.71
Picked up muscular injuries in both the Chelsea and Wolves games, suggesting he was beginning to struggle with the relentless schedule. When he was on the pitch, he was dependable as ever.
11) Jason Steele – 51.27
Made some important saves to keep clean sheets against Bournemouth and Wolves. Keeping out a Forest penalty four days after United converted all seven of their spot kicks past Robert Sanchez at Wembley did little to dissuade the notion that De Zerbi should have brought Steele on for the shootout.
12) Adam Webster – 40.51
De Zerbi opted to regularly rotate Webster and Levi Colwill through April. The on-loan Chelsea man has taken plenty of plaudits this season, but Webster started in all three wins and all three clean sheets.
13) Deniz Undav – 36.33
Has looked short of confidence this season and struggling in the FA Cup semi final would have done nothing to help. He therefore deserves a huge amount of credit for his performance against Wolves, scoring two goals which will hopefully kick start his Albion career.
14) Facundo Buonanotte – 32.41
Made his first Premier League start in the defeat at Forest and marked it with a goal. Might have added an assist too when his square pass put Mitoma in one-on-one, only for the Japanese Bullet Train to fire the opportunity wide.
15) Evan Feguson – 27.59
Injured himself when falling awkwardly against Chelsea which ruled him out for the rest of the month. Scored at Bournemouth with a ridiculously cheeky backheel flick.
16) Levi Colwill – 22.91
Bit of a strange month for Colwill in which he was in and out of the side. None of the games he did play ended in victory, with Brighton conceding eight times in his three appearances.
17) Robert Sanchez – 20.13
Played twice and did not put a foot wrong in either game. De Zerbi had previously confirmed Sanchez would start in the FA Cup semi final with his recall the week before at Stamford Bridge coming due to Steele being injured.
18) Yasin Ayari – 19.75
With Brighton holding on for three precious points via a first league victory away against Bournemouth since 2007, De Zerbi opting to introduce Ayar into midfield showed how much confidence he has in the Swedish teenager. Played a part in securing the victory.
19) Billy Gilmour – 14.05
Just one outing for Gilmour in April but what an outing it was, excelling in the middle of the park alongside Gross against Wolves. Staked his claim for much greater involvement in the final month of the campaign, as well as into next season when a midfield berth may well open up should Mac Allister and/or Caicedo depart in the summer.
The WAB Power Rankings are formulated through our matchday player scores. To play your part, make sure to follow us on Twitter and leave your post game player ratings in the relevant thread.
