Charlton 0-0 Brighton: Lamptey and Colwill press claims in ratings
Any number of aspects of Charlton Athletic 0-0 Brighton could be used to sum up the Albion’s evening, including the WAB player ratings from the Valley.
Roberto De Zerbi named a strong side in an attempt to take Brighton into the quarter finals of the League Cup for only the second ever time. The Albion finished the 90 minutes with five players on the pitch fresh from representing their nations at the World Cup.
And yet it was two individuals who have spent the season so far on the fringes found at the top of the player ratings ahead of more trusted regulars.
Levi Colwill and Tariq Lamptey did their claims for further first team involvement no harm by being the only players to achieve a score as high as seven.
Four missed penalties in the shootout which eliminated Brighton did not help the ratings of those failing from 12 yards.
Neither did Pervis Estupinan throwing himself to the floor like a husband pushed off a cliff by Janine Butcher. Many of you deducted points from the left wing back because of his theatrics.
Senior players struggled and 18 shots were taken without hitting the back of the net, leaving this sorry set of Charlton 0-0 Brighton player ratings. Things can only get better, right?
Jason Steele – 6.88
Having famously kept out four spot kicks when Brighton squeaked through the FA Cup against League Two Newport County in the 2020-21 season, he enhanced his penalty saving reputation with two against Charlton. Perhaps he can give Robert Sanchez some tips?
TARIQ LAMPTEY – 7.00
Roberto De Zerbi likes attacking full backs and Lamptey did his prospects of more Premier League football no harm with an exciting display. A real threat out wide, always wanted the ball and provided a rare example of a Brighton player taking a convincing penalty.
Lewis Dunk – 6.75
Had little bother defensively with Charlton offering nothing going forward. Got his head on several opportunities at the other end of the pitch. All went wide when at least one should have been put on target.
LEVI COLWILL – 7.00
Comfortable in possession, he did not waste a pass out of defence all night. Has surely done enough to keep his place for the return of the Premier League with Adam Webster currently ruled out injured.
Pascal Gross – 5.00
Gross at right back worked against Chelsea and Wolves before the winter break. Gross at left back did not against Charlton. It will be interesting to see if this is an experiment De Zerbi perseveres with as Gross gave a performance even less convincing than the run up for his missed penalty.
Moises Caicedo – 6.13
A surprise to see him start following his exploits in Qatar and the very obvious upset he suffered upon Ecuador’s World Cup elimination. Nobody could blame him for giving a below par performance; better to get it out of the system against Charlton than at Southampton on Boxing Day.
Billy Gilmour – 5.13
Has been strongly linked with a January loan move whilst recently saying he wanted to grasp the opportunity presented by Alexis Mac Allister being absent whilst recovering from becoming a World Cup winner. Did not really do that in a game he would have been hoping to stamp his mark on.
Julio Enciso – 4.50
Hauled at half time after having little impact despite seeing a lot of the ball. He has potential but Brighton need to be patient with him, which may include considering sending him out on loan. Does not look ready for regular first team football yet.
Adam Lallana – 6.25
Hit the bar with a shot crafted via his own lovely footwork. His one-touch passing ability carved through Charlton several times, only for the finishing of his teammates to let him down.
Solly March – 5.25
Not many of the near-7000 Albion fans at the Valley expected him to score what could have been the winning penalty when he stepped up. But even so, the standard of the miss was astonishing.
Deniz Undav – 4.38
The lowest scoring player in the Charlton 0-0 Brighton ratings. Looked a little off the pace which can be viewed two ways. Either the best may still be to come once he becomes better conditioned to the English game, or he is simply not cut out for it by still struggling six months after arriving.
Kaoru Mitoma – 5.88
From beating Germany and Spain at the World Cup to elimination from the Carabao Cup by a club four points off the League One relegation zone. Nowhere near the level he can perform even with a few promising runs thrown in.
Pervis Estupinan – 6.00
Absolutely amazing dive to try and win a penalty. When he was not looking for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar, he flashed in a couple of decent crosses which just needed a touch to convert. Toothless Brighton were of course lacking said touch.
Leandro Trossard – 4.75
Trossard cannot have been mentioned in the same sentence as Andy Kennedy ever before but he looked so disinterested as to warrant comparisons to one of the great Albion carthorses of the early 90s. Summed up nicely by a missed penalty.
Evan Ferguson – 5.88
Showed his more senior teammates how to score a spot kick with a convincing effort to steady the ship. Having the confidence to step up and take one augurs well for his future.
