Bees excellence at both ends should not leave Albion downhearted

Things do not seem to be going Brighton’s way at the moment. Last week started with the sad news that the Albion’s number eight, Enock Mwepu had been forced into retirement with a hereditary heart condition.

The issue was discovered during the international break. We were informed that when Mwepu returned home, he spent some more time in hospital in Sussex where the condition was diagnosed.

Enock Mwepu will be a huge loss for the Albion. How popular he is was shown by the way Friday evening’s game at the Gtech Stadium against Brentford became a tribute to Mwepu.

The Sky TV broadcast began with Brighton chief executive Mr Paul Barber on our screens, expressing his sincere good wishes for Mwepu.

Mr Barber reiterated that Mwepu would receive all the help and assistance needed from the club to help him start a new career.

We were later shown our chairman Mr Tony Bloom watching the action from the away end. He appeared to be enjoying himself, despite the result.

You do not see many owners of Premier League football clubs mixing with fans in this way. What a great honour for those at Brentford to get to watch the match alongside the chairman – who presumably did not have the sort of access issues at the turnstiles that other prominent Albion supporters experienced!

Brentford have not lost a Friday night game at the Gtech for quite a while now. The Bees seem to love playing at home under the lights and this was no exception.

Brighton’s briefing I am sure would have been to keep on top of Ivan Toney, ensure he was well marked and not to lay a hand on him in the penalty area.

None of that really happened as Toney finished one goal and then earned a penalty which he scored himself, making it Brentford 2-0 Brighton.

Toney is not on Gareth Southgate’s radar for the World Cup for nothing. He is the Bees’ main goal scorer, as important to them as Erling Haaland is for Manchester City.

It was not just Toney who the Albion had to overcome. David Raya had a blinder in goal for Brentford, proving himself to Thomas Frank after letting in five goals away at Newcastle United the previous week.

The Albion will not face two players at both ends of the pitch in such excellent form very often this season. That is a reason not to be too downhearted about the result against Brentford.

Frank must have done his homework as there was a distinct similarity between how Brentford defended against Brighton and what Tottenham had done a week earlier at the Amex.

There was no way through against Spurs and there was no way through against the Bees. Brighton tried hard and some of the opportunities should have hit the back of the net, even against a goalkeeper playing so well.

Missed chances were not the only problem. The Albion’s passing has not been as slick and smooth as in previous weeks, for me.

Maybe the players are not used to being constantly shouted at from the touchline? Is adapting to Robert De Zerbi being there rather than Graham Potter impacting concentration?

The football Brighton play is beginning to show signs of change. The back line seem much higher up the pitch and that fits in with De Zerbi’s more attacking plan.

I for one and not disheartened by the results against Spurs and Brentford. We deserved more from both games, a point at the very least.

Performances have been good. Just one thing is lacking. As Warren Aspinall always says on the BBC Radio Sussex commentary team: “You have to get the ball in the onion bag, it is goals that win games.”

Brighton remain in seventh place, hanging onto the tail end of the top six. After Nottingham Forest, there are some tough fixtures ahead with Chelsea at home and Manchester City away to come.

The Albion against that man Haaland. No pressure on Lewis Dunk, Joel Veltman and Adam Webster. I am sure they can handle him. What do you think?

Tony Noble @Noble1844Tony