Crazed celebrations at City Ground: Forest 2-3 Brighton photos
If you are of the view that celebrating a first win in seven matches when you have only 10 men on the pitch and 12 out injured is embarrassing, then do not look at these Nottingham Forest 2-3 Brighton photos.
Roberto De Zerbi, his players and the travelling Albion support have been scolded on social media by some Forest fans and the Celebration Police for their reaction at full time to taking three points from 14th placed Forest.
“They are acting like they have won the Champions League” was one of the most trotted-out lines used to describe De Zerbi sprinting 50 yards from dugout to away section at the City Ground the second referee Anthony Taylor blew the final whistle.
Frankly, who cares what bitter Tricky Trees supporters think? Everything was stacked against Brighton, from Ansu Fati and Tariq Lamptey limping off and joining the already ridiculously long injury list to Lewis Dunk losing his mind and picking up a straight red card.
Dunk calling Mr Taylor either “a bald prick” or “a bellend” left the Albion defending a slender one-goal lead with only 10 men for the final 15 minutes plus stoppage time.
That is a difficult enough task at most Premier League grounds. Let alone Forest, who have a formidable home record and can be backed by one of the best atmospheres in the top flight.
This therefore was a massive victory for Brighton. The scenes at the end reflected that, along with relief that the worst winless run of the De Zerbi Era was over.
Because that 3-1 home win over Plucky Little Bournemouth at the end of September was starting to feel like a long, long time ago.
Anthony Elanga headed Forest into a third minute lead but Brighton recovered and goals from Evan Ferguson and Joao Pedro had the Albion 2-1 ahead at half time.
Pedro converted a penalty on the hour mark to make it 3-1 before Forest were awarded a spot kick of their own. Dunk was less than impressed and paid the price when getting sent off for telling Mr Taylor exactly what he thought of him.
Morgan Gibbs-White converted from 12 yards to set up a very nervy finale. Brighton though kept Forest out to secure what must rank as one of their best wins under De Zerbi, given the circumstances.
Just don’t be celebrating it too much.
If you have any photos you would like included in our Nottingham Forest 2-3 Brighton gallery, please e-mail them to wearebrighton@hotmail.co.uk or tweet them to us @wearebrighton
