Squad depth already paid off for Brighton in Manchester United win

Another season of football began at the Amex Stadium and after 90 minutes played in front of our own fans, it looks very good for Brighton.

The squad played with determination, enthusiasm, and 120 percent effort from the first blow of the referee’s whistle right to the last.

They showed a will to win and eventually, the perseverance paid off with Joao Pedro scoring a 95th minute winner to beat Manchester United.

We have seen a change in strategy from the club this summer with more money being spent on players ready to make an instant impact in the first team.

The squad is now deeper and should be able to better cope with another injury crisis. Last season proved, as they say in my world, beyond reasonable doubt that more players were needed. And I am sure all these new recruits will reduce the club’s tax bill too!

New signings were one of the topics for discussion at the recent Brighton Fans’ Forum held in the Mayo Wynne Baxter Lounge.

Another question put to deputy chairman Mr Paul Barber OBE was from a young lady about the planned Brighton Women stadium.

Mr Barber reassured everyone that a decision on the site was not far away and that the development still had the blessing of Tony Bloom, who will be funding it.

This got me thinking. We all know the Amex can never be expanded to the size of the Emirates or Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

But what if Brighton Women took over the 32,000 capacity ground and a new Premier League stadium was built for the men with 70,000 seats? A bridge too far?

The Amex was packed for the visit of Newton Heath, or Manchester United as they are better known. For all United’s history, the Albion are actually a year older having been formed in 1901.

Either side of me in the Bridge Car Park where United fans, one a car load from South Wales and another from Guildford. Quite a few must have made the journey down the M6. The visitors drowned the North Stand out for large parts of the game.

It was umbrella weather for the most part. Not what you expect for the first home game of the season in August.

Upon arrival, I bought the new-look programme. The quality felt better than in previous years and the cover art was excellent. Those of you who read Dogma Fanzine will recognise the artist, Jamie Eke. He is a very talented man.

Also new for 2024-25 is the improved Amex sound system. The clarity is brilliant, although Sussex by the Sea seems to be a different version from a different band. We need the Royal Marines playing it. Have you noticed the change?

Brighton were almost caught out early when a long kick from United goalkeeper Andre Onana found Diogo Dalot. He easily got away from Joel Veltman and crossed. Fortunately, Amad Diallo headed off target with only Jason Steele to beat.

The Albion began to settle through the first half hour before taking the lead with their first shot on target.

Pedro fed Kaoru Mitoma on the opposite side of the box. Mitoma cleverly put the ball low back into the six yard area and Danny Welbeck slid in to make it 1-0 Brighton.

It was the 100th club goal of Welbeck’s career. Many congratulations to a wonderful man and player who we are so lucky to have at Brighton.

United responded immediately and Marcus Rashford forced Steele into a great save. Rashford put the rebound in but was flagged as offside by a linesman who would spend most of the afternoon giving very late decisions.

I expected United to come all guns blazing for the second half. It was Brighton though who had the early chances to score. Dalot cleared off the line from Milner and Welbeck headed a free kick against the bar.

The United equaliser came almost out of nowhere. Diallo broke down the right and as the fast-retreating Lewis Dunk and Jan Paul van Hecke tried to get back and intercept, Van Hecke succeeded only in sliding in and knocking the ball past Steele with his knee.

United had another offside goal ruled out when Alejandro Garnacho saw his shot catch the knee of Joshua Zirkee on its way in. VAR looked and confirmed no goal, leaving the score at 1-1 as the clock ticked away.

Fabian Hurzeler made his changes but we all know the danger United pose in the last few minutes. Fergie Time they used to call it.

The fourth official indicated seven extra minutes would be played. Halfway through and Brighton won a corner on the north-east side.

Initially, the delivery came to nothing. However, careful thinking from the Albion got the ball to Adingra. Rather than panicking, Adingra used his brain. He saw several unmarked blue and white shirts at the back post and floated a cross over six United defenders towards the,.

Pedro met it with a header and the Amex erupted. Everyone went berserk, including me hugging Paul, who I sit next to in the East Upper.

It was a brilliant way to beat a club famous for scoring injury time winners. All credit to the Albion and their never-say-due attitude.

Tony Noble @Noble1844Tony