Brighton play with authority
against Luton Town
A L B I O N R E P O R T - ( i )
12 AUGUST 2023
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 4 ( Solly March 1 - 36, Joao Pedro 1 - 71 penalty, Simon Adringa 1 - 85 Evan Ferguson 1 - 90+5 ) -
LUTON TOWN 1 ( Carlton Morris 1 - 81 penalty ) -
PREMIER LEAGUE - at the AMERICAN EXPRESS COMMUNITY STADIUM, FALMER.
Starting their seventh consecutive season in the Premier League, the Albion opened their 2023-2024 campaign with a visit from Premier League newcomers Luton Town in a match broadcast over the airwaves on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
Last season the Albion achieved their highest-ever top flight finish, namely 6th spot in the Premier with a record points total of 62 points from 38 games.
Europa League football for this season was also attained for the first time in the club's history.
Close season transfer activity at the Amex has so far been considerable, with the following departing for fresh pastures, midfielder Alexis Mac Allister (24) joining Liverpool for £35million, plus add-ons, forward Reda Khadra (22) signed for Stade de Reims for a fee of £1.7million, forward Aaron Connolly (23) joined Hull City in a permanent deal, goalkeeper Robert Sanchez (25) signed for Chelsea for a fee of £25 million, defender Michal Karbownik (22)joined Hertha Berlin in a permanent deal and midfielder Moises Caicedo (21) signed for Chelsea for a new British record transfer fee of £100 million, plus £15 million in add-ons.
Going out on season-long loans were forward Abdallah Sima (22) to Glasgow Rangers, goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen (23) to Sturm Graz (Austria), midfielder Kacper Kozlowski (19) to Vitesse Arnhem (Holland), forward Jeremy Sarmiento (21) to West Bromwich Albion and forward Deniz Undav (27) to Stuttgart (Germany).
New contracts were signed by Jeremy Sarmiento, Joel Veltman, Lewis Dunk and Jan Paul Van Hecke.
Incomings included, forward Joao Pedro (21) from Watford for a club record transfer fee of £30 million, midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud (27) free agent, formerly with Borussia Dortmund, midfielder James Milner (37) free agent, formerly with Liverpool, goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen (20) from Anderlecht for a fee of £16.3 million and defender Igor Julio (25) from Fiorentina for a fee of £14 milliion.
Forward Simon Adringa (21) and midfielder Steven Alzate (25) have returned to the club following season-long loans with Belgian clubs Royale Union Saint-Gilloise and Standard Liege respectively.
Against the odds, Luton Town gained promotion to the Premier from the Sky Bet Championship by virtue of defeating Coventry City in the Championship play-off final at Wembley in May 2023. Manager Rob Edwards had made a number of new signings pre-season and there were seven debutants in Luton's match-day squad for their visit to the Amex. On the management bench for Luton was former Albion coach Paul Trollope.
It was all Albion from the start and early on Joao Pedro squandered a relatively easy chance as he shot wide from James Milner's cross and Luton debutant goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski made fine saves to keep out shots from Danny Welbeck and Pedro.
The Seagulls took the lead on 36 minutes when Mahmoud Dahoud's pass found Kaoru Mitoma on the left and the latter's lofted pass found Solly March whose header easily beat keeper Kaminski for Albion's opener. 1-0.
At the other end Luton's Carlton Morris saw his header saved by Albion keeper Jason Steele. Before the interval Albion twice went close to increasing their lead as Welbeck's effort struck a post and Pedro had his goal-bound shot blocked. It had been all Albion first half.
Half-time 1-0.
The pattern of the game didn't change from the start of the second-half as Pascal Gross's shot narrowly missed and keeper Kaminski made a fine save from March following the winger's weaving run. On 71 minutes Luton Captain Tom Lockyer clumsily brought down Pedro in the box and the former Watford man got up to slam home the resultant penalty for the Seagulls second and his first Albion goal. 2-0.
The Hatters pulled a goal back on 81 minutes when Lewis Dunk was harshly adjudged to have handled a Jacob Brown cross in the area and Morris coolly slotted home the penalty to put the visitor's back in the game. 2-1.
Some poor defending by Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu permitted substitute Simon Adringa to net Albion's third and his first goal for the Seagulls. 3-1.
Evan Ferguson, another Albion substitute was unlucky to see his shot strike a Luton post but five minutes into time added on the young Irishman swept home a cross from Pervis Estupinan for Albion's fourth. 4-1. Welcome to the Premier Luton Town!
Final-score 4-1.
Match stats: Albion had 27 attempts at goal, with 12 on target and won 6 corners, free-kicks conceded - 11.
Luton Town had 9 attempts at goal, with 3 on target and won 7 corners, free-kicks conceded - 12.
TO SUM UP - An easy opening day win for the Albion and a rude awakening for Luton in their first taste of the Premier League.
James Milner, Mahmoud Dahoud, Joao Pedro and Simon Adringa looked useful additions to the squad and there will probably be some more Albion signings prior to the end of the transfer window on the 1 September.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Jason Steele; James Milner (Joel Veltman 79), Jan Paul Van Hecke, Lewis Dunk (Capt), Pervis Estupinan; Pascal Gross, Mahmoud Dahoud (Billy Gilmour 74); Solly March (Simon Adringa 74), Joao Pedro (Julio Enciso 88), Kaoru Mitoma; Danny Welbeck (Evan Ferguson 78).
Subs not used: Bart Verbruggen (G/K). Igor Julio, Steven Alzate, Facundo Buonanotte.
Luton Town line-up (3-5-2):- Thomas Kaminski; Mads Andersen (Chiedoze Ogbene 76), Tom Lockyer (Capt), Amari'l Bell; Issa Kabore (Alfie Doughty 64), Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu (Cauley Woodrow 88), Marvelous Nakamba, Tahith Chong (Luke Berry 88), Ryan Giles; Carlton Morris, Elijah Adebayo (Jacob Brown 64).
Subs not used: James Shea (G/K), John McAtee, Allan Campbell, Aidan Francis-Clarke.
Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire). VAR Official: Robert Jones.
Yellow Cards: Albion: 2 - Pervis Estupinan, Kaoru Mitoma.
Luton Town: 2 - Mads Andersen, Issa Kabore.
Possession: Albion - 71%. Luton Town - 29%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Billy Gilmour (Albion).
Attendance: 31672 (including 3001 Luton Town fans).
NEXT GAME:
19 AUGUST 2023 - WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS - away - Premier League - kick-off 15.00. "Live" over the airwaves on Talksport 2 and BBC Radio Sussex Sport.