Sitting eighth in the Premier League is no time to panic
Brighton 0-0 Nottingham Forest was the 100th Premier League game to be played at the Amex, as reported initially by the BBC.
A first win as head coach for Roberto De Zerbi would have been a fitting way to mark this special evening. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be as not for the first time, luck deserted the Albion in front of goal.
Celebrations were instead restricted to a pre-game light show, replacing the fireworks from recent home games. The light show was great, similar to the one at the Gtech Stadium before Brentford 2-0 Brighton on Friday night.
Whoever decided to steal the box of light tricks and bring it back from London with them deserves a pat on the back. However, we must be aware that flashing strobe lights are not suitable for all fans due to medical reasons.
To the game and wouldn’t it have been great if the Albion had slotted one home in the dying minutes to shoot up to fifth in the table?
For me, our current position of eighth is still a great place to be in. Brighton’s aim is to remain in the top half of the Premier League and that is exactly where we are.
As Robert Sanchez tweeted after the game to reassure fans, results are coming. I think Sanchez is dead right and we are not far away from scoring goals and winning games again.
Can anyone say with hand-on-heart that the lads did not give their all and play well against Forest? They did everything apart from put the ball in the back of the net. As the stats show.
When the teams turned around at kick off, I felt instantly uncomfortable. There is something about kicking towards the North Stand in the first half that I don’t like. Thankfully, it doesn’t happen very often. Maybe I am just too superstitious!
Dean Henderson was kept on his toes throughout the game by Leandro Trossard. Henderson tipped one over and then Trossard hit the bar.
The build up to that chance involved some short, sharp, one-touch play through midfield into the final third. It was really good to watch and showed the Albion’s quality.
Solly March put a shot low to the ground just wide. Forest were blocking and defending everything but even so at this point, you felt it was just a matter of time before a goal came from one of those chances.
Adam Webster took it upon himself to try and break the deadlock. He weaved his way up the pitch as he does so well, getting on the receiving end of a ball crossed from the right which he sent over the bar.
I wondered what De Zerbi would say during the break. More of the same was my guess as there was nothing to complain about other than the chances which had been blocked, saved or well defended.
The second half started well with Brighton applying pressure at the South Stand goal, winning corner after corner. Danny Welbeck put a header wide after more good build up play.
As the game wore on, I began to wonder if there might be a sting in the tail. Would Jesse Lingard suddenly spark to life? The last thing Brighton wanted or deserved would have been to lose in the last few minutes.
Forest’s attempts at timewasting towards the end became more and more obvious. I was not impressed by referee Darren England or indeed his assistants.
They let Forest get away with so much, helping them take a point. Come full time and you could see that the 0-0 draw was like a victory for the visitors.
Their chairman is similar in appearance to Demis Roussos with a beard. The reason I spotted him was he was jumping for joy after the game, as if Forest had just won the FA Cup!
I am sure the players would have felt frustrated afterwards. Personally, I think we will see these chances converted into goals in the coming games against opponents who do not want to defend all the time.
A trip to Manchester City is an interesting place to test that theory. Then a week later when Graham Potter returns to the Amex with Chelsea.
I so hope nobody gives Potter and his staff a hard time. Who would not turn down a pay increase of the one he was offered? We have to remember this is a career for these guys and often a short one at that.
There is nothing to fear from the next two games. Famous last words? Up the Albion!
Tony Noble @Noble1844Tony
Thank you to everyone who was purchased my book covering the 2021-22 season, The Seagulls Best Ever Season. It can be found on Amazon at this link. There are also 11 copies left in stock at the Amex Superstore.
