Seagulls looked more settled and slick than most in opening games
It has been a quite week building up to the start of the 2023-24 Premier League season with not one, but two Q&A events for Brighton fans ahead of the new campaign.
Monday evening saw the Albion put on a Zoom meeting for those with questions over the upcoming Europa League fixtures. Then on Thursday, a Fans’ Forum took place in the Mayo Wynne Baxter Lounge at the American Express Stadium.
Broadcast live on BBC Radio Sussex and hosted by Johnny Cantor, on the panel were vice chairman Paul Barber OBE and and mister Roberto De Zerbi.
There were some great questions asked from some of our younger fans and De Zerbi was able to give some honest and interesting answers, until 45 minutes in when he and trusted colleague and interpreter Enrico Venturelli were called away.
I thought to myself at the time, it must be something important for De Zerbi to leave. Then I discovered at 7am the next morning whilst out walking my dog, Teddy, that Sky News were reporting Moises Caicedo had been sold to Liverpool.
We all know that never actually happened as Caicedo did not want to go to Merseyside. Why not? Liverpool is a great city, home of the Cavern Club and it gave the world the Beatles. Oh, and the Reds can offer Caicedo the chance to play European football, as Brighton can.
Still, whatever takes your fancy, Moises. I am sure you and your advisors had your reasons for picking Chelsea and West London.
By the time Saturday arrived, I was really looking forward to being back at the Amex. Would the wonderful atmosphere we enjoyed towards the end of last season be there from game one? Matches in summer are sometimes quieter, with new fans and more empty seats as people are on holiday.
Everyone tried to join in with the chants. But as people around me in the East Upper observed, it was difficult on this day to hear what the North Stand were singing. This is something that needs to be addressed.
I will also put forward my long-held idea early this season for what should happen when the teams walk out. The events team should look at Liverpool, where You’ll Never Walk Alone does not start playing until everyone is on the pitch.
The stands are packed and get you the full impact of everyone singing it immediately before kick off. Perhaps we should do the same with Sussex by the Sea, rather than the current setup of it playing as the teams come out of the tunnel?
Small gripes maybe and you only have to look at the chaos at some of the other opening matches of the Premier League to see how well run Brighton are.
Arsenal had to delay kick off because their new electronic ticketing did not work. At Brentford, there were sanitation problems with no water inside the ground, meaning they were delayed at well.
No such issues at the Amex. A burst of blue and white pyrotechnics welcomed the players, referee David Coote blew his whistle and we were off for another season.
My goodness, what a flying start it was. New signing Joao Pedro dragged an early chance wide from a Pascal Gross cross. Pedro knew he had missed a sitter, but he would make up for that with what followed over the rest of the game.
Danny Welbeck hit a dipping shot from outside the box which flew just over the bar. Welbeck then went for goal with an effort safely cradled by Luton goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski. With Pedro and Kaoru Mitoma to his left, a pass may have been the better option for Welbeck.
Brighton took the lead when some excellent play from Mitoma resulted in a brilliant cross from the left to Solly March. March nodded home and with no offside flag raised, the Albion had lift off for the 2023-24 season.
Jason Steele made a lightning fast reaction save to stop a Luton corner from Carlton Morris finding the back of the Brighton net. The Albion might have been in control, but the Hatters still posed a threat as the game headed towards half time.
Another trademark Brighton move from Steele to Mitoma to Mahmoud Dahoud to Pervis Etupinan ended with a shot from Welbeck. From the East Upper, it looked as if Welbeck had scored.
However, the ball hit the right hand post and bounced back into the arms of the lucky Kaminski. Welbeck was a little off balance when shooting, which is probably why he rattled the upright rather than bulding the back of the net.
Hopes for the second half were that Brighton would increase their lead and really take control of the game. Pascal Gross had a near miss early on leading to a corner. The delivery was dangerous, only for the ball to hit Mitoma in the arm and let Luton off the book.
Another goal mouth scramble could not quite end in a positive result for the Albion. Luton then came close when a Morris cross had to be turned behind for a Hatters corner.
A short time later and Pedro was the victim of a hand around the neck, sending him to ground in the Luton box. Mr Coote had a great view and made no hesitation in awarding Brighton a penalty.
VAR made its check, during which Pedro used the same technique we saw from Alexis Mac Allister last season. He stood there, ball in hands, focussing on the spot kick and not getting distracted by the officials at Stockley Park carrying out their job.
The on-field decision remained unchanged and Pedro struck the ball to the right of Kaminski. It was the Brazilian’s second successful penalty at the Amex in the space of six days after he scored from the spot in the 1-1 friendly draw with Rayo Vallecano last Sunday.
There were 19 minutes left to play when Pedro made it 2-0. Hopes that Brighton would see it out comfortably were momentarily dashed when Luton were awarded a ridiculous penalty of their own 10 minutes later.
Dunk was deemed – and I deliberately use the word deemed, as I do not know how on earth he could have avoided this – to have deliberately handled as he fell when attempting to block a cross.
Mr Coote ruled that the ball had hit Dunk on his elbow presumably and the Hatters had a chance to cut the deficit. Morris converted and Luton suddenly had wind in their sails.
This could have been dangerous. A newly promoted team with nothing to lose now eyeing a come-from-behind point in their first Premier League game. Would the Hatters manage to snatch a draw?
Not on your Auntie Nelly! The Albion were having none of such notions and came back all guns blazing. A silly error from Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu as he tried to play keepy ups in the box teed up Simon Adingra for a debut Brighton goal, making it 3-1 in the 85th minute.
The icing on the cake came in stoppage time. Estupinan went running away down the left and passed across goal for Evan Ferguson to slide home. It was a goal which summed up the Albion’s performance; great work, great football, great to watch.
Having watched the other televised Premier League games from the weekend and highlights on Match of the Day, Brighton looked more settled and slicker than most other teams.
The new players appear to have gelled and integrated already and that offers the Albion the potential to get something of a head start by picking up early points whilst other sides feel their way into the campaign.
It is testament to De Zerbi and his coaching staff… although we already know how good they are. Bring on Wolves.
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.
