Didn’t think it could happen again… and then it happened again
Despite the on-field catastrophe occurring at the King Power Stadium as Brighton lost a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Leicester City, all is not lost. We must keep the faith.
That can be easier said than done. I know it is hard when we hear Fabian Hurzeler speaking a while back, saying we will learn from drawing against Wolves.
And then lessons are clearly not learnt, as the same situation, being 2-0 ahead with five minutes left and ending with only a point plays out again.
These issues have to be ironed out if the Albion are to be a top six team… or better. What we must remember though is Brighton have a long-term plan to become established in Europe.
It will not happen overnight and mistakes like those we saw against Leicester and Wolves are part of the process. I just hope the process is completed before I pop my clogs!
Brighton are not the only team struggling to hold onto leads this season. Spurs endured an even worse Sunday afternoon than the Albion, being 2-0 up at home to Chelsea after only 11 minutes and yet they end up losing 4-3.
Tottenham were also 2-0 up at the Amex in October before Brighton launched a famous comeback to win 3-2. That is football; and at least the Albion are still drawing after losing 2-0 leads rather than having nil points. Imagine supporting Spurs!
It was another filthy, wet day as Storm Darragh made its mark across the UK. Travelling Seagulls fans found it difficult to get to the King Power; and even some of those on the coaches who arrived early moaned about it being too early to be in Leicester!
The teams came out to the familiar sound of the century-old ‘Post Horn Gallop’. How apt that was as the Foxes ended up chasing and catching Brighton by the final whistle.
Johnny Cantor reported on BBC Radio Sussex that the Albion started the game winning 50-50s but also looking a little slow in transition.
Watching back the highlights and it is clear Brighton dominated the first half. Tariq Lamptey made an early run down the right, crossing straight onto the left foot of Joao Pedro. This was a rare occasion, however, where Pedro put his shot wide of the post rather than on target.
Great build up play between Lamptey, Carlos Baleba and Kaoru Mitoma created a chance for Pervis Estupinan next. Estupinan let a curling shot go which was heading into the top corner until Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen managed to parry it away.
The Albion fans could be heard loud and proud over the radio as more chances came. Evan Ferguson teed up Mitoma, who got his wedge out and chipped over the bar.
Brighton got the goal their first half performance deserved on 37 minutes. A remarkable switch from Estupinan saw a perfect cross-field ball played over to the right.
Lamptey took two touches before hitting a curler into the top corner for a sensational goal. With that moment, Lamptey showed he is well and truly back. Brighton would be foolish to sell him in January, as the rumours suggest they might.
Leicester threatened for the first time just before the players went into the break, Bart Verbruggen making a stretching save from the head of James Justin.
Hurzeler’s decision to substitute Carlos Baleba for Mats Wieffer at half time has come under some scrutiny.
I thought this was a wise move though to prevent Baleba picking up a second yellow card, as happened at Bournemouth.
Rather than criticising Hurzeler, we should be disappointed with Baleba for waving his hand at referee Stuart Attwell to suggest the official book a Leicester player.
That rightly earned Baleba a yellow of his own. When will these lads learn? This is bread and butter stuff. Accruing unnecessary bookings causes problems for everyone.
Wieffer set up the second Brighton goal on 79 minutes with a well-judged ball over the top. Yankubu Minteh fended off both Victor Kristiansen and Conor Coady, going left, right, left before getting a shot away which found the far corner of the Leicester net.
What could possibly go wrong now? Johnny and Warren Aspinall did not think much as they said that should seal all three points. The commentator curse…
The 86th minute saw Jamie Vardy pull one back. Although I thought leading 2-1 with four left to play was a potentially dodgy situation to be in, I remembered those words from Hurzeler after Wolves about learning lessons.
Surely, it could not happen again. Could it? Yes, it could. Igor Julio went a step too far, hanging onto the ball for too long in front of the defence.
The Foxes hunted Igor, gained possession and Bobby De Cordova-Reid was the player who fired Leicester level.
It is not the first time we have seen bad individual decisions cost Brighton. Whatever was going through Igor’s mind in that moment was definitely one of those occasions.
Time for Brighton to improve their decision making and game management. The Premier League table is so tight, like a game of snakes and ladders. You only need to drop a couple of points to find yourself sliding down a snake.
And there is no better time to get back on a ladder after three poor results than by beating Crystal Palace, right?
Tony Noble @Noble1844Tony
