Match Review: OGC Nice 0-1 Brighton

Brighton and Hove Albion won their first pre-season friendly at the sixth defeat after a 1-0 away win against OGC Nice.

Under 23 squad striker Viktor Gyokeres scored the only goal in the behind-closed-doors game in which new signings Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Florin Andone featured for the first time.

They both started before being withdrawn after 45 minutes. Jahanbakhsh’s position in that first half was particularly interesting. While plenty of us have assumed that Chris Hughton will use him on the right in place of Anthony Knockaert, the Iranian international played on the left. Solly March, normally a left sided player, started on the right.

Given that the temperature was hotter than the inside of an oven, it was perhaps little surprise that nothing is reported to have happened in the first half. Hughton made a further five chances at the break in addition to the removals of Jahanbakhsh and Andone. Maty Ryan, Ezequiel Schelotto, Shane Duffy, March, and Tomer Hemed made way. David Button, Ben White, Davy Propper, Markus Suttner and Gyokeres took their places.

Jahanbakhsh on the left wasn’t the only interesting decision from Hughton regarding that position. Suttner also had a spell out on the wing with Bong behind him at left back. It’s been obvious since Suttner arrived from Ingolstadt last summer that he has a fantastic delivery on him. This isn’t the first time he’s been used in a more advanced role in pre-season either. Is Hughton preparing the ground for the Austrian to play as a wide man this season?

If that is the plan, then Hughton was given plenty of food for thought. The only goal of the game came when Suttner’s cross was flicked on by Murray to Propper who teed up Gyorekes to score from a few yards.

New Nice boss Patrick Viera only decided to introduce their 2017-18 top scorer Mario Balotelli with 15 minutes left on the clock, suggesting this wasn’t a quite a full strength Les Aiglons side.

Even so, the Albion will have been pleased to finally get a win under their belts. There was however concerning news for anybody who has purchased the new green away shirt and tends to get a bit sweaty. After just 25 minutes, Murray was so drenched that it looked as though he’d forgone the flight to the South of France and swum there.

Wouldn't go buying the new away shirt if you have a tendency to sweat. Glenn Murray looks like he swum the Channel to get to Nice #BHAFC pic.twitter.com/DgLbTK6mTa

— We Are Brighton (@wearebrighton) July 31, 2018