Sheffield United 2-5 Brighton: Hat-trick hero Pedro tops ratings
Watford Football Club, we can apologise on behalf of Brighton & Hove Albion. A daylight robbery was committed on Vicarage Road back in May, when the man who scored a hat-trick and topped the Sheffield United 2-5 Brighton player ratings was signed by the Albion for just £30 million.
Joao Pedro. He converts every penalty he takes. He is a box of flicks and tricks. He weaves around opponents like they are not there. His first touch is sublime.
All stuff you might expect from a Brazilian footballer, granted. But then he combines it with the aerial ability of a traditional English target man. If he improves his decision making, it is frightening to think how good he can become.
Pedro’s hat-trick at Bramall Lane moved him onto 18 goals for the campaign, overtaking Glenn Murray for most scored in a Premier League season by a Brighton player.
It is only January. Five more and he eclipses Michael Robinson’s club record for a top flight campaign of 22, set in 1980-81. Football did exist before Sky Sports came along in 1992, you know.
Pedro has rightly taken all the headlines (and the first five paragraphs here) and whilst he was brilliant against the Blades, the majority of the rest of the starting XI were equally impressive in easing the Albion into round five of the FA Cup.
Here are your Sheffield United 2-5 Brighton player ratings.
Bart Verbruggen – 6.00
Had to chuckle when the match report on the official Albion website described him making a great save before the Blades scored their first. What actually happened was a bad piece of goalkeeping straight out of the Wayne Henderson playbook, palming the ball directly to Gustavo Hamer to fire into the subsequently unguarded net. Needs to stop making a goal-costing error every other game.
Adam Webster – 5.29
These Sheffield United 2-5 Brighton player ratings get better, we promise! After Verbruggen was at fault for Blades goal one, Webster said “Hold my beer.” Not only did he appear to push William Osula straight into the path of the cross the home forward headed home for the second goal, but he then began hopping around on one leg with his arm in the air appealing for offside. Comical stuff.
Jan Paul Van Hecke – 7.29
Told you the Sheffield United 2-5 Brighton player ratings got better. With Lewis Dunk rested, Jan Paul van Hecke found himself playing central of a back three and doing another magnificent job as the leader of the Albion defence. Having provided an assist in the last round of the FA Cup at Stoke City, he was at it again here when setting up Pedro for the hat-trick goal.
Igor Julio – 7.14
Igor! Igor! Igor! Looked a little slow at times but that is to be expected having been out injured for the past month. Made one excellent block to stop what looked like a certain Blades goal.
Jack Hinshelwood – 6.71
A solid outing up and down the right for the teenager without bringing any of the wow-factor that recent performances have had.
Pascal Gross – 7.29
Rarity in that Brighton scored five times and he did not directly assist any of them. Would have been a different story had he not strayed offside before crossing for Evan Ferguson to head home, resulting in a potential sixth for the Albion being ruled out. Still buzzed around and kept possession ticking over nicely.
Billy Gilmour – 8.14
Neither Adam Lallana nor Carlos Baleba can force their way into the Brighton starting XI right now because of the form Gilmour is in. Covered every blade of grass and had played a role both on the ball and off it in everything good the Albion did.
Pervis Estupinan – 6.86
Roberto De Zerbi starting with a back three gave Estupinan even more attacking freedom than he is used to in the normal 4-2-3-1. Put it to good use with a number of rampaging runs up the left and some dangerous crosses into the box.
Facundo Buonanotte – 8.43
Buonanotte was only bettered in the ratings by Pedro. Scored an absolute screamer after creating space drifting in from the left that offered a reminder of why his manager at Rosario Central – a certain Carlos Tevez – had compared him to Lionel Messi. Buonanotte is enjoying a real purple patch at the moment.
Evan Ferguson – 7.57
Did everything but get on the scoresheet. His hold up play was great, he stretched the Blades back line and it is fair to say Pedro would not have completed his hat-trick without Ferguson acting as the perfect foil.
JOAO PEDRO – 9.14
No way Pedro! 10 penalties out of 10 scored this season. Six goals in six Europa League games. Five goals in two FA Cup games. First Brighton player to score a hat-trick in the FA Cup – we think – since Jake Robinson against Northwich Victoria in 2006. Some guy.
Lewis Dunk – 6.71
The Albion captain was introduced with Brighton leading 3-2 as part of a switch to a back four. The change in formation helped make the game safe and Dunk played his part in that.
Danny Welbeck – 7.57
Welbz is Dat Guy. Only on the pitch for half hour, in which time he scored the fifth for Brighton and played a part in the Pedro hat-trick goal.
Tariq Lamptey – 6.00
More minutes under his belt as he returns from another longish injury layoff. Watching him fly down the flank is always fun to see.
Adam Lallana – 6.71
Lallana did what Lallana does. Came on, showed some nice touches and gave Brighton a boost in terms of midfield control, making the Albion even more dominant through the closing stages.
Carlos Baleba – 5.86
A very late introduction ahead of what felt like 27 minutes of second half injury time. Did not see much of the ball.
The WAB Player Ratings are formulated using marks out of 10 given by Brighton fans via Twitter. To have your scores included, follow We Are Brighton on Twitter and look out for the player rating thread after each game.
