Vote for your WeAreBrighton.com Player of the Month for September 2018
It was a winless September for Brighton and Hove Albion as they picked up just two Premier League points out of a possible 12.
Both of those were come-from-behind draws as well. The Albion had gone 2-0 down at home to Fulham in the first game of the month before a Glenn Murray double rescued a share of the spoils against the Cottagers.
A fortnight later and it was the same story at Southampton. Chris Hughton’s plan for Brighton of defending their way to a point went out the window when the hosts took a 2-0 lead with 20 minutes remaining.
At that point, he belatedly threw on a couple of strikers and the Albion turned the game around, scoring through Shane Duffy and a last minute Murray penalty.
It’s been a good month for those two and they probably should be the front runners for this months award in a shortlist of only five. Duffy carried on with the form that saw him named our Player of the Month for August while Murray’s three goals took him onto five for the season.
September’s two defeats came against two of last season’s top four. Tottenham Hotspur won 2-1 at the Amex with Anthony Knockaert scoring the Albion consolation while it was a case of damage limitation at the Etihad Stadium where reigning champions Manchester City triumphed 2-0.
Shane Duffy
Last month’s winner put in another string of fine performances at the heart of the Albion defence. He was particularly impressive away at Southampton, producing one outrageous goal line clearance in amongst five or six brilliant blocks and starting the comeback with Brighton’s first goal at St Mary’s.
Anthony Knockaert
Knockaert opened up about his battle with depression last season which explains why his form tailed off in Brighton’s Premier League debut campaign. He’s looked much more like his old self this time around and has already assisted more goals in two months of this season than in the whole of 2017-18. Scored the consolation against Spurs.
Martin Montoya
The £6m right back has looked to be Brighton’s best summer signing so far. Continues to do everything on the defensive side of the game well and has a looked a real outlet when getting forward, especially when crossing from out on the right. With a run of easier games to come through October and November, it’ll be intriguing to see just how much he can offer in an attacking sense.
Glenn Murray
The striker turned 35 this month and is now eligible for veterans football but he shows no signs of slowing down. Netted a brace against Fulham and then was cool as a cucumber to score the injury time penalty which earned a point at St Mary’s. He’s now within two goals of a century in Brighton colours.
Maty Ryan
Along with Duffy, the most consistent Albion player so far this season. He pulled off a string of brilliant saves at the Etihad Stadium to keep the scoreline against City respectable and it was his interventions that kept Brighton in the game at home to Spurs. He must be the most underrated goalkeeper in the Premier League and already his absence in January while representing Australia in the Asian Cup is a huge concern.
Polls close at 8pm on Sunday 7th October
