Brighton have a weakness – but back De Zerbi to fix it
When somebody on social media asked me for my Brighton against West Ham prediction, I said 3-1. Correct result but the wrong way around as the Albion saw their excellent record against the Hammers ended.
My initial confidence had admittedly taken a bit of a knock on Friday when it was confirmed poor Julio Enciso had suffered a bad knee injury and now faces a few months in the sick bay.
Some good news from Saturday though was that Enciso had undergone successful surgery and was in good spirits. He even took to social media to thank Brighton fans for their well wishes, which of course we reiterate here.
There are no easy games in the Premier League. What struck me watching Brighton 1-3 West Ham from my seat in the East Stand Upper was that it was somewhat similar to the away game at Newcastle United back in May when the Albion were beaten 4-1.
The Magpies caught Brighton out with long balls forward to a big, strong striker who our defence failed to deal with. This was also the case against West Ham, suggesting there is a weakness there.
Hammers manager David Moyes also targeted Brighton’s right side. These effective tactics combined with defensive errors are what sent West Ham to their first win in 13 over the Albion.
So many individual mistakes in one game are unusual. There might be one or two in 90 minutes but never three leading directly to the opposition scoring.
Which is a reason not to be too downhearted over the result. Remember last season, when Brighton would bounce back from disappointment all guns blazing, Roberto De Zerbi having addressed the problems of the previous match?
Brighton showed their weaknesses against West Ham but you can bet that De Zerbi will have them fixed before Newcastle at the Amex on Saturday, even if Eddie Howe uses the same approach as last time.
The Magpies will be tough opponents and feeling a little aggrieved after their loss against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.
Boy, what a game that was. Liverpool played with 10 men after Virgil van Dijk was sent off and Darwin Nunez came off the bench to score twice in a 2-1 victory, the winner coming in the 93rd minute.
Magpies are intelligent creatures but so too are Seagulls. Our support can make the difference and we will be right behind them from the moment they appear from the tunnel.
Which is more than I can say for the support offered by 3 Mobile. I spent most of my week leading up to the West Ham game getting very frustrated with their network.
Apparently, they call themselves a communications company. Well, you would never think so. Also, customer service well, I do not think they have ever heard of that.
Now, I am not turning into a Victor Meldrew, but 3 really are a total shambles. Dealing with companies like them make you appreciate how well run the Albion are under Mr Tony Bloom and Mr Paul Barber.
Thankfully, I was back online by the time I set off for the Amex. The journey to Brighton was like travelling through Saigon in monsoon season rather than a drive through Haywards Heath.
But as we reached the top of Ditchling Beacon and caught that first glimpse of the stadium in all its glory, the sun came out.
My first port of call on arrival was the Superstore to see how my new book, Seagulls Best Ever Season Volume 2 was selling. There was only one copy left on the shelf, so thank you to everyone who has already purchased. I hope you enjoy it.
The early signs for Brighton against West Ham were promising. Billy Gilmour hit a low fizzer just past the post early on. A great touch from Pervis Estuipinan after a Pascal Gross cross created the chance for Gilmour.
Next to create a chance was Adam Webster… and unfortunately, it was a chance created for West Ham. James Ward-Prowse lobbed a ball down the Brighton right channel which Webster attempted to pass back to Bart Verbruggen.
Wrong decision! It fell well short, Michail Antonio intercepted and passed across goal to find the onrushing Ward-Prowse who finished to give the Hammers a 19th minute lead
West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola would prove to be the bane of Brighton’s life from that point on. The first of nine quite amazing saves came when Kaoru Mitoma, Gilmour and Danny Welbeck linked up to find Ferguson whose shot after some nifty footwork was kept out by Areola.
With Brighton trailing 1-0 at half time, I had faith in whatever De Zerbi was going to say to do the trick. And it did initially, Mitoma working his magic down the left and crossing for Ferguson to produce an amazing header Areola somehow kept out.
Estupinan was barged to the floor in the box by Lucas Paqueta next. In real time it looked a penalty and even more so when watching back a replay followed by looking at it in slow motion.
Referee Anthony Taylor disagreed, which in my view was a poor decision. If you make no attempt to get the ball and send a player flying in the box, surely that is a foul?
Had Brighton been awarded and converted a penalty at that point, the game might have been different and West Ham may not have scored twice in five minutes to motor ahead.
A long ball again down the Brighton right released Said Benrahma. He had so much time and space to cross into Jarrod Bowen, who made it 2-0. Antonio then added the third after again beating Webster.
The Albion had chances in the remaining half hour. Lewis Dunk saw a header saved by Areola and Mitoma should have had a penalty which Mr Taylor again waved away.
Gross pulled one back with a crisp strike from outside the box but other than that, nothing seemed to go Brighton’s way.
It might have even been worse but thankfully, Antonio put a golden opportunity over the crossbar when he really should have added a fourth.
Less individual errors, greater luck and a better defensive performance will be needed against Newcastle. Over to you, Mister De Zerbi.
Tony Noble @Noble1844Tony
Seagulls Best Ever Season Volume 2 charts Brighton’s record breaking 2022-23 campaign through the eyes of Tony Noble, an East Stand Upper season ticket holder at the American Express Stadium. It is available from Waterstones, WHSmith, Amazon Bookstore and all good bookshops as well as the Albion Superstore at the Amex and via this link.
