Anthony Knockaert’s top five Brighton moments
There haven’t been many players like Anthony Knockaert in the 119 year history of Brighton & Hove Albion. Not many as skilled, as passionate and with as a deep a connection with Seagulls supporters as that of the Little French Magician.
Knockaert was the driving force behind Brighton’s promotion to the Premier League, helping Chris Hughton to feel more confident in the attacking abilities of his squad.
When he arrived from Standard Liege midway through the 2015-16 season, the Albion had drawn 11 of their 24 games in the Championship.
The majority of those came away from home, when Hughton would often prioritise not losing over winning. Liam Rosenior was his go-to man for this, starting his fair share of games on the road as a defensive right winger.
All that changed when Knockaert arrived. From his debut in a 2-0 defeat away at Rotherham United, it became clear that we had a man with the ability to unlock defences and turn games on their head in an instant.
He was far too skilful, too unpredictable and just too damn good for most Championship full backs. Brighton won 40 of the 65 games that Knockaert played for the club in the second tier, and you could argue he did more than anyone else to secure top flight football for the Albion.
Bruno was El Capitan, the respected leader. Glenn Murray got the goals, 22 of them which proved to be the difference between the 2015-16 season’s play off heartache and the 2016-17 season’s promotion joy.
It was Knockaert who provided everything else, being voted the Championship’s Player of the Season in the process. He was genuinely unplayable and at times watching him could justify paying for a ticket alone.
While it may be true that he found the step up to the Premier League harder than many of us thought, Knockaert still delivered far more good memories than bad ones.
That’s why there has been such an unilateral outpouring of grief over his permanent move to Fulham, perhaps even more so than when he initially made the temporary switch a year ago.
It’s hard to recall a player being sold who so many people were absolutely gutted to see depart – and it it isn’t hard to see why Albion fans feel that way.
Anthony Knockaert was the man behind so many brilliant moments during his three-and-a-half years in the stripes and that is why he quite rightly leaves with his name firmly etched alongside the very best and most popular players to ever play for Brighton.
Here are our top five Knockaert moments.
Scoring the winner against Crystal Palace
You could watch football for the next 50 years and you probably won’t see a better goal than Knockaert’s winner against Crystal Palace.
It was a strike worthy of winning any game, but for it to deliver a first win at Selhurst Park in 14 years and complete a league double over that lot up the road made it even better.
Dale Stephens got the ball rolling, playing a superb 40 yard diagonal pass to Knockaert out on the right. Knockaert brought it down first time, cut inside and then bent an exquisite 25 yarder into the very top corner of Vicente Guaita’s goal.
Murray was so amazed that he covered his face with his hands in shock. Anthony Knockaert meanwhile went sliding on his knees into the away end as every Brighton player including Maty Ryan rushed to celebrate with him.
It was bedlam in the Arthur Waite Stand and easily the best goal Knockaert scored for the club. It earned him our WeAreBrighton.com Goal of the Season award and was a reminder to Premier League audiences of just how good a player he could be on his day. It’s a shame we didn’t see it more regularly in the top flight.
The Sheffield Wednesday play off second leg
One of Knockaert’s best 90 minutes in a Brighton shirt came in the second leg of the Championship play off semi final against Sheffield Wednesday – just three days after he’d been stretchered off at Hillsborough.
Knockaert had received a nasty blow to the ankle which looked like it would curtail his season. Yet not only did he somehow recover to play through the pain barrier as the Albion looked to overturn a 2-0 deficit, but he was also the best player on the pitch.
Wednesday had no answer to Knockaert. He hit the post with a free kick in the first half and was at the heart of everything that Brighton did in a frenetic performance. The tie finished 1-1, meaning that Wednesday progressed to Wembley, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying.
That’s why Knockaert was so adored by the Albion faithful. Not many players would have worked so hard to get fit 72 hours after being carried from the field of play, nor would they have strapped their ankle up and played through what must have been significant pain.
Knockaert was determined to make a difference. He was as desperate to play as a lifelong supporter would have been, and yet he was a bloke who had only been at the club for five months.
Scoring against Queens Park Rangers at the Amex
The sudden and unexpected death of Knockaert’s father, Patrick, in November 2016 hit the Little French Magician particularly hard.
It was therefore remarkable to see the way that he used the tragedy to motivate him towards winning promotion. Knockaert missed the Albion’s 2-0 win over Bristol City, at which the squad paid their own tribute by holding up their absent team mate’s shirt when Steve Sidwell scored his ridiculous goal from the halfway line at Ashton Gate.
Hughton and the players then travelled over to France to attend the funeral in a show of solidarity. When Knockaert returned to action, he was on a one-man mission to deliver Premier League football in honour of Patrick.
There was a touching moment when he scored his first goal at the Amex following Patrick’s death. That came on December 27th in the 3-0 win against Queens Park Rangers with Knockaert celebrating by holding up a photograph of his late father to the cheers and adulation of a packed stadium.
Beating Sheffield Wednesday at home with only 10 men
Knockaert loved playing against Wednesday. Not only was there that aforementioned play off game, but he tormented the Owls as Brighton won for the first ever time at Hillsborough in October 2016.
Anthony Knockaert then followed that up by leading Brighton to a 2-1 victory over their promotion rivals in Sussex, despite the fact that the Albion had to play the final 30 minutes with only 10 men.
This was the night when many of us started to believe that promotion was actually going to happen. It’s remembered largely for David Stockdale’s unbelievable double save from a Fernando Forestieri penalty brought about after Murray was dismissed for a deliberate handball, but Knockaert’s contribution was every bit as important as Stockdale’s.
It was Knockaert who netted both of the Albion’s goals. The opener came in the first half when he rounded Keiron Westwood. Lewis Dunk’s own goal then levelled things up and Murray saw red, seemingly handing the advantage to Wednesday.
Knockaert had other ideas though. He chased, harried and ran after everything following the red card and got his reward with the winning goal five minutes from time. It was one born out of sheer determination as he slid in on the stretch to convert Sebastien Pocognoli’s cross.
That gave the Albion the most unlikely of wins and led to a spectacular meltdown from Wednesday, as both Steven Fletcher and Sam Hutchinson were sent off in frustration.
The brace that beat Wolverhampton Wanderers
Good Friday turned into Bloody Excellent Friday when the Albion put one foot in the Premier League with a 2-0 victory away at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Knockaert had been named as the Championship’s Player of the Season a few days earlier and he celebrated in style with both goals at Molineux as yet another opponent had no answer to the question of how to deal with him.
His finishing was exemplary, the first coming with a clinical low shot past Andy Lonergan and the second after Ivan Cavaleiro gave away possession and Knockaert punished that mistake in ruthless fashion.
Knockaert sprinted off to celebrate in front of the packed away section, sliding on his back on the wet surface before being mobbed by his delighted team mates.
Three points three days later against Wigan Athletic confirmed promotion with Knockaert central to the celebrations afterwards. He took selfies and led the singing from the director’s box. He was probably more delighted than many Albion fans who have supported the club through thick and thin.
That day showed just how much Brighton and Hove Albion meant to Anthony Knockaert – and he meant so much to us all too. Thanks for the memories Anthony, it’s been an honour.
