Vote for your WeAreBrighton.com Player of the Month for April 2019
Our first thoughts over here at WeAreBrighton.com Towers when it come to deciding on a shortlist for our April Player of the Month award was should we really bother?
After all, this was an absolutely terrible month for the Albion. There was a biggest home defeat since 1973 when Bournemouth came to the Amex and won 5-0. Cardiff City are one of only three team below the Seagulls in the table, yet they too won in Sussex with a 2-0 triumph three days about the Cherries catastrophe.
The trip to Chelsea saw the Albion muster just one effort on goal and that came from left back Bernardo from a full 30 yards. Even worse was to come at Wolverhampton Wanderers, where we managed a grand total of zero shots on target and although there were brave and battling performances in the FA Cup Semi Final against Manchester City and the league trip to Tottenham Hotspur, the fact remains that the Albion went a club record 12 hours and 15 minutes without scoring a goal.
That barren run ended in the 1-1 draw against Newcastle United, the second half showing against the Magpies being arguably the one high point of a desolate seven games. The shortlist that we have come up with tells you everything you need to know about how bad it has been – four defenders, a goalkeeper and a bloke who doesn’t even play for Brighton but who scored the goal which could relegate Cardiff are vying for the dubious award of being April’s Player of the Month – or to be more accurate, April’s least worst player.
Ryan Babel
The Fulham forward scored a stunning goal from distance to give the Cottagers a 1-0 win over Cardiff which now makes it very difficult for Neil Warnock’s side to catch the Albion. Babel therefore could be the man who has netted the goal which keeps Brighton in the Premier League, which is more than what most of our own players have done in April to help the cause.
Bernardo
The man who finished second to Anthony Knockaert in our March Player of the Month poll was probably Brighton’s best player in the 1-1 draw with Newcastle United. Impressed in the FA Cup Semi Final when keeping Manchester City’s dangerous front line at bay and managed to have the Albion’s only shot on target in the 3-0 defeat away at Chelsea.
Bruno
The Albion captain hadn’t played a league game in 2019 before being recalled for the trip to Chelsea as Chris Hughton chose to rest Martin Montoya. He was recalled again after the Bournemouth debacle and after helping to steady the ship with a clean sheet at Wolves and an impressive showing against Newcastle, now looks to be first choice right back ahead of Montoya.
Shane Duffy
Had something of a nightmare against Bournemouth when his wayward pass followed by some fantastic injury faking gifted the Cherries their first. More than made up for it however with two excellent displays against Wolves and Spurs in which he was back to his blocking machine best.
Lewis Dunk
Was more consistent than his defensive partner throughout April and won widespread praise for an outrageous showing away at Spurs. At time, it felt like he was single handedly keeping the Albion in the game as he blocked, headed and tackles anything and everything.
Maty Ryan
Without his interventions, it’s quite feasible that the two points the Albion picked up in April could have been zero points. Two brilliant saves at Wolves and a fantastic one-on-one stop against Newcastle were vital in the month’s two draws and he also earned plaudits for his performance in the Spurs game. A welcome return to form for a player who has been a little below par since his return from the Asian Cup at the start of February.
Poll closes at 8pm on Sunday 5th May
