Sept 2nd 2022 – Brighton & Hove Albion vs Leicester

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 5 ( Alexis MacAllister 2 – 1, penalty – 71 minutes, 1 – 90+7 minutes, Luke Thomas1, own goal – 10 minutes, Moises Caicedo 1 – 15 minutes, Leandro Trossard 1 – 64 minutes )

LEICESTER CITY 2 ( Kelechi Iheanacho 1 – 1 minute, Patson Daka 1 – 33 minutes )

PREMIER LEAGUE at the American Express Community Stadium, Falmer.

With the Albion looking to get back to winning ways following their 1-2 defeat at Fulham on the 30 August, bottom of the table Leicester City pitched up at the Amex for a Premier League encounter “live” in front of the Sky Sports cameras and broadcast over the airwaves on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Sussex Sport.

Albion Head Coach Graham Potter made one change to his starting line-up from the Fulham game, with Danny Welbeck replacing Pervis Esputinan in a 3-5-2 formation. Midfielder Billy Gilmour, signed from Chelsea at the end of the transfer window had to content himself with a seat on the substitutes bench.

Leicester’s squad had been weakened in the transfer window by the sale of central defender Wesley Fofana to Chelsea and the departure of goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel o Ligue 1 side Nice.

Incomings were central defender Wout Faes and free agent goal-keeper Alex Smithies. Last time out Leicester had lost 0-1 at home to Manchester United on the 1 September, their fourth loss on the trot and the Foxes found themselves bottom of the Premier, with one point from five games played. For their visit to the Amex, Manager Brendan Rodgers made two changes to his starting line-up from the Manchester United game, with Kelechi Iheanacho and Patson Daka replacing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jamie Vardy. Looking at the Leicester squad, they were still a force to be reckoned with.

The teams met three times last season. In the Premier, the Albion won 2-1 at the Amex on the 19 September 2021, with their goals being scored by Neal Maupay (35m, penalty) and Danny Welbeck (50m), with Jamie Vardy (61m) replying for the Foxes. In the return game at the King Power Stadium on the 23 January 2022 the teams drew 1-1, with Danny Welbeck (82m) scoring for the Seagulls after Patson Daka (46m) had opened the scoring for the Foxes. The third meeting was in the Carabao Cup, Fourth Round on the 27 October 2021 at Leicester when it was 2-2 after 90 minutes and the Foxes won the penalty shoot-out 4-2.

In ideal conditions, it was the visitors who stunned the home supporters by taking the lead in 51 seconds, when a fine build-up involving Youri Tielemans, Harvey Barnes and Patson Daka ended with Kelechi Iheanacho tapping the ball home from close-range to give the Foxes a shock lead. 0-1.

Albion’s response was pretty swift as on 10 minutes Leandro Trossard on the left crossed to the far post where Solly March’s header was diverted into his own net by Leicester defender Luke Thomas. 1-1.

Better was to follow for the Seagulls five minutes later as Enock Mwepu intercepted James Maddison’s pass and the Zambian ran full pelt at the Leicester defence before slipping a neat pass to the on-running Moises Caicedo who then drilled a precise low shot past Danny Ward in the Leicester goal. The Albion fans were in raptures at their team’s comeback. 2-1.

To their credit, the Foxes fought back on 33 minutes when Tielemans hit a long pass from his own half which eluded Albion’s Lewis Dunk and there was Daka who ran through to slot the ball past the helpless Albion keeper Robert Sanchez for his team’s equaliser. 2-2.

It had been a breathtaking start to the game and there was more to come. Prior to the break both keepers saw action as Ward tipped Pascal Gross’s corner over the bar and Sanchez made an excellent save to keep out a Barnes drive. The half ended with March heading wide from a Trossard cross.

Half-time 2-2.

The second-half started with VAR drama as Gross’s free-kick was cleared by the Leicester defence to the waiting Alexis Mac Allister, who from about thirty yards out rifled a humdinger of a shot into the top of the Leicester net, only for VAR to rule the goal out for a marginal offside. Harsh on Albion and the scorer as the goal would have been in contention for the goal of the season.
The Seagulls took this setback in their stride and they deservedly went ahead again on 64 minutes when a silky move involving Joel Veltman, Mac Allister and Gross ended with Trossard shooting home from close-in. 3-2.

Keeper Ward then made a superb save to deny March but on 71 minutes Albion scored a fourth after Wilfred Ndidi fouled Trossard in the box and up-stepped penalty expert Mac Allister to slam home the resultant spot-kick and the Albion were home and dry. 4-2.

Still Seagulls came forward and keeper Ward made two excellent saves to keep out efforts by Gross and March. On 90+3 minutes Billy Gilmour was brought on as a substitute for Caicedo, for his Albion debut. In the seventh minute of time added on, Albion scored a fifth when Mac Allister curled home a superb free-kick from 25 yards out to cap a magnificent win for the Albion. 5-2. It was also the first time the Albion had scored five goals in a top-flight match – the icing on the cake.

Final-score 5-2.

Albion had 23 attempts at goal, with 11 on target and won 10 corners, free-kicks conceded – 6.

Leicester City had 6 attempts at goal, with 4 on target and won 1 corner, free-kicks conceded – 8.

VERDICT – This was a terrific performance by the Albion, including outstanding displays by Solly March, Pascal Gross, Alexis Mac Allister, Moises Caicedo, Leandro Trossard, Enock Mwepu and Danny Welbeck – goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and defenders Joel Veltman, Lewis Dunk and Adam Webster werent bad either. It was also the first time the Albion had scored five goals in a top-flight match. The Albion continue to occupy fourth spot in the Premier.

Albion line-up (3-5-2):- Robert Sanchez; Joel Veltman, Lewis Dunk (Capt), Adam Webster; Solly March (Tariq Lamptey 90+3), Pascal Gross, Alexis Mac Allister, Moises Caicedo (Billy Gilmour 90+3), Leandro Trossard (Pervis Esputinan 89); Enock Mwepu, (Deniz Undav 84), Danny Welbeck.
Subs not used: Jason Steele (G/K), Levi Colwill, Steven Alzate, Kaoru Mitoma, Jan Paul Van Hecke.

Leicester City line-up (4-4-2):- Danny Ward; James Justin, Wilfred Ndidi, Jonny Evans, Luke Thomas; James Maddison, Boubakary Soumare (Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall 72), Youri Tielemans (Daniel Amartey 72), Harvey Barnes (Timothy Castagne 46); Kelechi Iheanacho (Jamie Vardy 72), Patson Daka.
Subs not used: Daniel Iversen (G/K), Marc Albrighton, Nampalys Mendy, Dennis Praet, Ayoze Perez.

Referee: Tony Harrington (Cleveland). Assistant Referees: Simon Long, Steve Meredith. Fourth Official: Andre Marriner. VAR Official: Chris Kavanagh. Assistant

VAR Official: Mark Scholes.

Yellow Cards: Albion: 1 – Alexis Mac Allister. Leicester City: 1 – Luke Thomas.

Possession: Albion – 54%. Leicester City – 46%.

BBC Sport Player of the Match: Alexis Mac Allister (Albion).

Attendance: 31185.

ALBION SIGNING – On the 1 September 2022 – Albion announced the signing of Scotland international BILLY GILMOUR – (21) – midfielder – from CHELSEA – on a 4-year contract – for a fee of £7.5 million.

ALBION DEPARTURE – Following the termination of his contract with the Albion, by mutual consent on the 1 September 2022 – FLORIN ANDONE – (29) – forward – joined La Liga 2 side LAS PALMAS.

NEXT GAME:10 SEPTEMBER 2022 – AFC BOURNEMOUTH – away – Premier League – kick-off 15.00.

Jack Kaye,

7 September 2022.

Editor’s comment based on news on 7^th September
It may be ironic that Albion reached their highest score being in their highest position in the Premier League at this match. Albion fans will be desperately sad, that Graham Potter, the head coach is going to Chelsea after they sacked their manager Thomas Tuchel. We wish Tony Bloom all the very best of luck in finding the right replacement.

PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AS AT 2nd SEPTEMBER