Vote now for your WeAreBrighton.com Player of the Month for August 2017
Brighton and Hove Albion’s first month as a Premier League side ended without a goal being scored just one point on the board from a difficult run of fixtures.
Facing title favourites Manchester City and 2015-16 champions Leicester City in the opening two games was always likely to be tough and so it proved, with 2-0 defeats in both games emphasising just what a big jump in quality it is from Championship to top flight.
There was a hard earned point at Watford in a 0-0 draw which could and probably should have been more given we dominated the game and they played an hour with 10 men after Miguel Britos’ sending off, but we just couldn’t make any of the numerous chances created count.
As a result, our first Player of the Month poll of the season is very defence orientated – and when we say that, what we mean is there is only one non-defender on it.
Bruno
Subbed at Watford at half time when on a booking, before that he had an excellent start to the season, particularly in the Manchester City game in which he faced some of the worlds most dangerous wide men and didn’t look out of place.
Shane Duffy
He missed the end of last season through injury but such is his importance that he was straight back in for this campaign despite the form of Uwe Hunemeier as the Albion got over the promotion line. He dealt well with both Manchester City and Leicester City’s dangerous attacks.
Lewis Dunk
The only Brighton player to score so far this month, although admittedly it was past Maty Ryan and into his own goal. That aside he has been superb and, given England’s lack of ball playing centre backs, he can’t be far from a call up if this continues.
Dale Stephens
The only non-defender to make the shortlist, he has been the Albion’s stand out midfielder so far, showing control on the ball and a fantastic range of passing away at Watford in particular.
Markus Suttner
The German left back is the only one of the Albion’s summer signings to make the poll. An obvious upgrade on anything we’ve had at left back since Stephen Ward, he has been solid in defence and offered a genuine attacking threat going forward.
