Jack Kaye's Albion Report XI

November 17, 2023

Brighton v Sheffield United

2 NOVEMBER 2023 -

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1 SHEFFIELD UNITED 1

PREMIER LEAGUE -

at the AMERICAN EXPRESS COMMUNITY STADIUM, FALMER.

After the excitement of achieving their first-ever away win in Europe in Amsterdam three days earlier, the Albion were back at the Amex for a Premier League encounter with bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United, the game being covered by BBC Radio Sussex Sport.

Roberto De Zerbi, the Albion Head Coach made six changes to his starting line-up from the team which beat Ajax 2-0 in Amsterdam on the 9 November, with Jason Steele, Adam Webster, Igor Julio, Billy Gilmour, Facunda Buonanotte and Adam Lallana replacing Bart Verbruggen, Joel Veltman, Lewis Dunk (injured), James Milner (injured), Kaoru Mitoma and Joao Pedro.

It was good to see Jakub Moder on the substitutes bench after his lengthy injury absence.

Sheffield United had gained promotion to the Premier after finishing runners-up to Burnley in the Sky Bet Championship last season. Head Coach Paul Heckingbottom had been unable to strengthen his squad sufficiently, due to a lack of funds and they did not gain their first win of the campaign until they beat Wolves at Bramall Lane on the 4 November. The victory over Wolves was the Blades last game prior to their visit to the Amex and Head Coach Heckingbottom made one change to his starting line-up from that game, with James McAtee coming in for the injured Rhian Brewster.

The Albion got off to the best possible start when on 6 minutes Simon Adringa's superb mazy run left three opponents in his wake, before playing a one-two with Facunda Buonanotte and then scoring with a right-foot shot past Blades goalkeeper Wes Foderingham. 1-0.

Previously Foderingham had thwarted Ansu Fati and Blades Cameron Archer had sent a header wide. It was all Albion now as Foderingham saved Fati's shot, Adam Webster headed wide when well-placed and Billy Gilmour's excellent cross-field pass found Buonanotte whose shot flashed narrowly wide.

Last action of an Albion dominated half ended with Gilmour's shot from distance being flipped over the bar by the busy Foderingham. The Albion should have scored more than the one goal they had converted first-half and Foderingham's fine saves had kept his team in the contest.

Half-time 1-0.

The Seagulls made a double substitution at the start of the second-half, with Kaoru Mitoma replacing Adam Lallana and Joao Pedro coming on for Facunda Buonanotte.

Within minutes Pedro had gone close to scoring with a shot which just cleared the bar. The Seagulls continued to pepper the Sheffield goal, with the excellent Foderingham making fine saves to keep out shots from Mitoma and Mahmoud Dahoud. A potential game-changing incident took place on 69 minutes when Dahoud went over-the-top on Ben Osborn and for which he received a straight red card from Referee John Brooks.

10-man Albion were pegged back on 74 minutes when Jayden Bogle's cross from the right was diverted into his own net by Albion defender Webster - would you believe it. It was Sheffield's first direct effort on the Albion goal. 1-1.

The goal gave the visitors hope of taking all three points and Bogle went close to scoring but he sent his shot wide when he should have done better.

In the end another two points dropped by the Albion, this time to the bottom-of-the-table Blades.

Final-score 1-1.

Match stats:

Albion had 11 attempts at goal, with 6 on target and won 6 corners, free-kicks conceded - 13.

Sheffield United had 9 attempts at goal, with 1 on target and won 3 corners, free-kicks conceded - 16.

VERDICT - Another two points dropped by the Albion. After a dominant first-half when they should have sewn the game up prior to the half-time break, The sending-off of Mahmoud Dahoud on 69 minutes proved to be decisive and the Adam Webster own goal was the Blades only attempt on target. It is possible that the lengthy injury list and regular Thursday night Europa League football have hampered Albion's recent exertions.

The third international break will give some players extra time to recover from their injuries.

Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Jason Steele; Pascal Gross (Capt), Adam Webster, Jan Paul Van Hecke, Igor Julio; Billy Gilmour (Carlos Baleba 71), Mahmoud Dahoud; Facunda Buonanotte (Joao Pedro 46); Adam Lallana (Kaoru Mitoma 46), Simon Adringa; Ansu Fati (Joel Veltman 71).

Subs not used: Bart Verbruggen (G/K), Jakub Moder, Jack Hinshelwood, Benicio Baker-Boaltey, Mark O'Mahony.

Sheffield United line-up (3-4-1-2):- Wes Foderingham; George Baldock, Jack Robinson, Auston Trusty; Jayden Bogle (William Osula 90+6), Vinicius Souza (Ben Osborn 52), Oliver Norwood (Capt), Luke Thomas; James McAtee (Anis Ben Slimane 85); Gustavo Hamer, Cameron Archer.

Subs not used: Jordan Amissah (G/K), Max Lowe, John Fleck, Benie Traore, Yasser Larouci, Andre Brooks.

Referee: John Brooks (Leicestershire).

VAR Official: Chris Kavanagh.

Red Card: Albion: 1 - Mahmoud Dahoud.

Yellow Cards;
Albion: 3 - Simon Adringa, Facunda Buonanotte, Carlos Baleba.

Sheffield United: 2 - Jayden Bogle, Jack Robinson.

Possession: Albion - 62%. Sheffield United - 38%.

BBC Sport Player of the Match: Billy Gilmour (Albion).

Attendance: 31367.

CONTRACT NEWS -

It was announced by the Albion on the 10 November 2023 that forward

EVAN FERGUSON - (19) - had signed a new 6-year contract with the