Brighton 2-2 Leicester: Baleba at the back tops player ratings

In a sign of just how bad Brighton 2-2 Leicester City was, Carlos Baleba topped the player ratings. The problems this highlights are numerous.

Firstly, Baleba is not a centre back. He even posted on Instagram he did not wake up on Saturday morning and expect to be starting a competitive game as a defender for the first time in his life.

For him to have have been the best Seagull on the pitch in an unfamiliar position is telling of both what a great player Baleba is. And how bad the rest of his teammates were.

A case in point being Lewis Dunk. Baleba’s score of 7.00 was over double which his centre back partner Dunk achieved; the Albion captain finishing bottom of the pile with 3.23.

That was problem number two. Worse though was problem number three. A defender topping the player ratings in a game against opponents who had not scored a Premier League goal for 830 minutes of football stretching back to the end of January.

Which nicely sums up what a mess Brighton 2-2 Leicester was – with your player ratings as follows…

Bart Verbruggen – 4.23

A goalkeeper linked with Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and other giants of European football should not be conceding the sort of goal he did for the Foxes’ opener. That is presumably behind his low mark as without several vital saves after that, the Albion could have been totally humiliated.

Jack Hinshelwood – 4.54

Based on what we have seen this season, he can do a job at left back but is very much not a right back. To the point where many Brighton fans are clamouring for 19-year-old Charlie Tasker to be given a chance with Hinshelwood moving back into midfield.

CARLOS BALEBA – 7.00

Few more million have been added to Baleba’s summer price tag now everyone knows he has the versatility to play as a central defender as well as in his natural midfield berth.

Lewis Dunk – 3.23

Definitely at fault for the first goal and could be blamed for the second. There is no doubt now that Brighton have been a better team this season without the skipper.

Pervis Estupinan – 5.00

Struggled defensively and he did not offer a great deal going forward either. The sort of afternoon where you want Estupinan and Mitoma at their best. One was below part and the other absent with injury.

Yasin Ayari – 5.62

Okay through the first half before disappearing in the second. That partly explains why Leicester dominated the final 15 minutes whilst Brighton were left hanging on for a point.

Matt O’Riley – 5.69

His best game in an Albion shirt so far. Decent going forward and got into promising positions when hitting the woodwork and missing a header.

Yankubu Minteh – 4.77

Simon Adingra seems to be the winger who has copped the majority of criticism from Seagulls supporters. Minteh though also squandered some decent openings amongst all the chances Brighton wasted.

Joao Pedro – 6.54

The Albion were embarrassingly unable to score from open play against a Foxes side who have conceded over 70 goals already this season. Thank God for Pedro and his penalty taking ability.

Simon Adingra – 4.38

Mitoma’s injury gave Adingra a starting opportunity down his favoured left flank. Failed to make the most of it with some glaring misses overshadowing the role he played in winning Brighton their penalties.

Danny Welbeck – 4.23

Poor performance by his normal standards in the sort of game where the Albion really needed Dat Guy to be firing on all cylinders.

Diego Gomez – 4.23

Introduced into midfield as Hurzeler attempted to turn the tide of Leicester getting onto the front foot. No impact though from the bench.

Solly March – 5.38

Brought energy and purpose. Hurzeler has said the most March can offer between now and the end of the season is 30 minute cameos. A real shame because Brighton need him.

Brajan Gruda – 4.31

Volleyed ambitiously off target in his only real contribution.

The WAB Player Ratings are formulated using marks out of 10 given by Brighton fans via social media. To have your scores included, follow We Are Brighton on Twitter or We Are Brighton on Bluesky and look out for the player rating thread after each game.