1st April Brighton and Hove Albion 3 v Brentwood 3
PREMIER LEAGUE -
at the AMERICAN EXPRESS COMMUNITY STADIUM, FALMER.
In a match labelled "the battle of the gamblers", Tony Bloom's Albion entertained Matthew Benham's Brentford in a Premier League fixture at the Amex, in a match broadcast over the airwaves on BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
In their previous outing the Albion had beaten Grimsby Town 5-0 at the Amex in the Quarter-Final of the FA Cup on the 19 March,.
Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi made four changes to his starting line-up from the Grimsby game, with Jason Steele, Joel Veltman, Levi Colwill and Danny Welbeck coming in for Robert Sanchez, Adam Webster, Deniz Undav and Evan Ferguson (injured).
In their previous Premier League game the Bees had drawn 1-1 at home to Leicester City on the 18 March and for the visit to the Amex, Head Coach Thomas Frank made one change to his starting line-up from that game, with Pontus Jansson replacing Yaone Wissa in a change of formation.
In the reverse fixture earlier this season on the 14 October 2022 at the GTech Community Stadium, Brentford won 2-0, with both goals coming from Ivan Toney, one a penalty. The Seagulls did the double over Brentford last season, winning 1-0 (Leandro Trossard 90m) at Brentford on the 11 September 2021. In the return fixture at the Amex on the 26 December 2021, the Albion won 2-0, with their goals coming from Leandro Trossard (34m) and Neal Maupay (42m).
This was Brentford's first season in the Premier and they finished in 13th position in the league, with 46 points from 38 games.
Before a bumper and noisy crowd at the Amex, it was the Bees who took the lead on 10 minutes when Pontus Jansson escaped his marker, Lewis Dunk, to head Mathias Jensen's precise cross past Albion keeper Jason Steele for the opener. 0-1.
A fine run by Solly March, past two opponents, ended with a deflected shot which Brentford keeper David Raya saved with ease. The Seagulls were level on 21 minutes when Steele's long pass over the top of the Brentford back four found Kaoru Mitoma and the Japanese international calmly lobbed the ball over keeper Raya for a spectacular equaliser. It was Mitoma's 7th Premier League goal of the season. 1-1.
Albion's elation was short-lived, as within two minutes Bees leading goalscorer Ivan Toney had ambled through the Seagulls static defence to fire a right-foot shot past the exposed Steele. 1-2.
Within the half-hour the Albion were level again when March crossed to the far post where Danny Welbeck rose to send a powerful header past keeper Raya. 2-2. Both teams created and failed to convert chances before the break, namely Mitoma, Welbeck, Dunk, Alexis Mac Allister, Levi Colwill and March for the Seagulls and Jansson for the Bees.
Half-time 2-2.
Albion continued to be generous second-half and on 49 minutes Bryan Mbeumo's free-kick found Ethan Pinnock unmarked at the far post and the Brentford defender had the easy task of tapping the ball home from close-range to put his side ahead for the third time in the game. 2-3. As Albion set about equalising, Raya in the Brentford goal made a string of fine saves to deny the Seagulls, saving from Moises Caicedo, March and Joel Veltman.
Albion got the goal they richly deserved in the last minute of normal time when VAR decided Aaron Hickey had handled substitute Deniz Undav's shot in the area and up-stepped the cool Mac Allister to smash home the resultant penalty-kick. 3-3. In time added on the Albion had another strong appeal for a penalty turned down by Referee Michael Oliver. A thriller at the Amex.
Final-score 3-3.
Albion had 33 shots at goal, with 15 (a record in the Premier this season) on target and won 14 corners, free-kicks conceded - 16.
Brentford had 7 shots at goal, with 5 on target and won 0 corners, free-kicks conceded - 10.
TO SUM UP - A great game for the fans. The statistics showed that the Seagulls had 33 attempts at goal, with 15 on target and won 14 corners. Brentford on the other hand had only 7 attempts at goal, with 5 on target and won 0 corners. If a boxing contest, Albion would have won by a mile. Albion need to work on their finishing.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Jason Steele; Joel Veltman (Julio Enciso 72), Lewis Dunk (Capt), Levi Colwill, Pervis Estupinan (Facundo Buonanotte 83); Pascal Gross, Moises Caicedo; Solly March, Alexis Mac Allister, Kaoru Mitoma; Danny Welbeck (Deniz Undav 83).
Subs not used: Robert Sanchez (G/K), Adam Webster, Yasin Ayari, Billy Gilmour, Jan Paul Van Hecke, Andrew Moran.
Brentford line-up (5-3-2):- David Raya; Aaron Hickey, Pontus Jansson, Ethan Pinnock, Ben Mee, Rico Henry; Mikkel Damsgaard (Josh Dasilva 73), Christian Norgaard, Mathias Jensen (Saman Ghoddos 85); Bryan Mbeumo (Yoane Wissa 79), Ivan Toney.
Subs not used: Thomas Strakosha (G/K), Kevin Schade, Mathias Jorgensen, Mads Roerslev, Fin Stevens, Michael Olakigbe.
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).
Yellow Cards: Albion: 2 - Pascal Gross, Alexis Mac Allister. Brentford: 1 -
Aaron Hickey.
Possession: Albion - 72%. Brentford - 28%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Lewis Dunk (Albion).
Attendance: 31493.