Weary Albion drop important points
26 APRIL 2023 #
NOTTINGHAM FOREST 3 ( Pascal Gross OG, Oliveira Danilo 1 Morgan Gibbs-White 1, penalty
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1 ( Facundo Buonanotte 1
PREMIER LEAGUE - at the CITY GROUND, NOTTINGHAM.
Following their Wembley heartbreak, the Albion were off to Robin Hood country for a meeting with Nottingham Forest in the Premier in front of the BT Sport 4 cameras, the match also being broadcast over the airwaves on BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
Albion Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi made three changes to his starting line-up from the FA Cup Semi-Final against Manchester United on the 23 April, with Jason Steele, Levi Colwill and Facundo Buonanotte coming in for Robert Sanchez, Adam Webster and Danny Welbeck.
Argentinian Buonanotte and Paraguayan Julio Enciso were making their first Premier League starts for the Seagulls.
Forest had gained promotion to the Premier by virtue of a 1-0 play-off win over Huddersfield Town at Wembley in May 2022 and despite the addition of over twenty players to their squad in the summer 2022 transfer window, Forest have struggled in this, their first season in the Premier.
Last time out Forest had lost 2-3 at Liverpool on the 22 April and for Albion's visit Head Coach Steve Cooper made two changes to his starting line-up from that game, with Serge Aurier and Brennan Johnson replacing Scott McKenna (injured) and Remo Freuler.
Earlier this season Albion and Forest drew 0-0 in the Premier at the Amex on the 18 October 2022.
The Seagulls were slow off the mark and on ten minutes Pervis Estupinan was caught by Neco Williams dallying on the ball in the area and in an effort to retrieve the situation Estupinan fouled the Forest player and Referee Jarred Gillett pointed to the spot. Jason Steele in the Albion goal made a superb save in pushing away Brennan Johnson's penalty-kick.
Minutes later Forest goalkeeper Keylor Navas made excellent saves to deny Julio Enciso and then Kaoru Mitoma. Thereafter Johnson fired a shot narrowly wide and at the other end Alexis Mac Allister curled a shot just wide of the target. Albion took the lead on 38 minutes when keeper Navas parried a Solly March shot into the path of Facundo Buonanotte who calmly stroked the ball into the empty net. It was the 18 year-old Argentinian's first Premier League goal for the Seagulls. 0-1.
Deep into time added on Forest equalised when Taiwo Awoniyo found Renan Lodi on the left and whose cross into the area took a wicked deflection off Pascal Gross and the ball ended up in the back of the Albion net. 1-1. On the balance of play Forest were fortunate to be level at the interval.
Half-time 1-1.
At the start of the second-half Estupinan and Enciso failed to convert opportunities which came their way and at the other end Williams did the same. On the hour, a neat move involving Estupinan and Buonanotte got Kaoru Mitoma free on the left but the winger's shot hit the post and deflected wide. Against the run of play Forest took the lead on 69 minutes when Moises Caicedo lost possession of the ball to Awoniyi on the half-way line who in turn found Oliveira Danilo and the midfielder left Levi Colwill in his wake before sending a low shot past keeper Steele from the edge of the area. 2-1.
Following their efforts the previous weekend at Wembley, the Albion were visibly tiring but March sent in a volley which keeper Navas tipped over the bar and from the resultant corner Lewis Dunk headed over. Youngster Odeluga Offiah substituted for Buonanotte on 88 minutes for his Premier League debut. Albion conceded their second penalty of the game in time added on when Dunk handled in the area but this time Morgan Gibbs-White converted from the penalty spot. 3-1
There was still time for Navas to make a brilliant save to keep out a piledriver from Mac Allister and substitute Deniz Undav was unlucky to have a goal chalked off for offside.
A difficult night for the Seagulls.
Final-score 3-1
Stats:
Albion had 17 shots at goal, with 7 on target and won 7 corners, free-kicks conceded - 8.
Forest had 12 shots at goal, with 5 on target and won 2 corners, free-kicks conceded - 7.
TO SUM UP - After the heartbreak of the FA Cup semi-final defeat at the
hands of Manchester United the previous weekend, the visit to Forest was going to be a difficult fixture and so it proved. The Albion controlled two- thirds of the game but in the end Forest's high energy game proved decisive.
It was good to see 18 year-old Facundo Buonanotte notch his first Premier League goal for the Albion.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Jason Steele; Pascal Gross, Lewis Dunk (Capt), Levi Colwill, Pervis Estupinan (Danny Welbeck 72); Moises Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister; Solly March, Facundo Buonanotte (Odeluga Offiah 88), Kaoru Mitoma; Julio Enciso (Deniz Undav 75).
Subs not used: Robert Sanchez (G/K), Adam Webster, Joel Veltman, Jan Paul Van Hecke, Yasin Ayari, Billy Gilmour.
Nottingham Forest line-up (3-4-2-1):- Keylor Navas; Serge Aurier, Augusto Felipe, Moussa Niakhate (Joe Worrall 14); Neco Williams (Cheikhou Kouyate 65), Orel Mangala, Oliveira Danilo, Renan Lodi; Brennan Johnson (Harry Toffolo 86), Morgan Gibbs-White; Taiwo Awoniyi (Andre Ayew 80).
Subs not used: Wayne Hennessey (G/K), Remo Freuler, Sam Surridge, Emmanuel Dennis, Jesse Lingard.
Referee: Jarred Gillett (Queensland, Australia).
Yellow Cards: Nottingham Forest: 2 - Keylor Navas, Augusto Felipe.
Possession: Albion - 75%. Nottingham Forest - 25%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Harry Toffolo (Nottingham Forest).
Attendance: 28808 (including 2531 Albion fans).
FORTHCOMING FIXTURES:
8 MAY 2023 - EVERTON - home - Premier League - kick-off 17.30.
"Live" on BT Sport.
Jack Kaye.