featuring the Manchester United (24/8)
and Crawley Town (27/8) games
24 AUGUST 2024
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 1
PREMIER LEAGUE
at the AMERICAN EXPRESS STADIUM, FALMER
For their first home game of their eighth consecutive Premier League campaign, the Albion entertained Manchester United at the Amex. The match was covered "live" by TNT Sports and broadcast over the airwaves on Talksport and BBC Radio Sussex Sport. It was also Albion's new Head Coach Fabian Hurzeler's first competitive match at the Amex.
Having won 3-0 at Everton on the opening-day of the season on the 17 August, the Albion had to make one enforced change to their starting line-up from the Everton game, with Billy Gilmour replacing the injured Mats Wieffer in midfield.
New club record signing Georginio Rutter had to content himself with a seat on the substitutes bench for this one.
The Red Devils had won their opening game of the season, beating Fulham 1-0 at Old Trafford on the 16 August and for their visit to the Amex Head Coach Erik ten Hag named an unchanged 20-man squad from the Fulham game.
In their meetings in the Premier last season, the Seagulls won 3-1 at Old Trafford on the 16 September 2023, with their goals coming from Danny Welbeck (20m), Pascal Gross (53m) and Joao Pedro (71m), whilst Hannibal Mejbri (73m) netted United's consolation.
In the return fixture at the Amex on the 19 May 2024, United gained their revenge with a 2-0 victory, with their goals being scored by Diogo Dalot (73m) and Rasmus Hojlund (88m).
The game started in torrential rain which persisted throughout and it was United who created and missed the first chance of the game on the ten-minute mark when Diogo Dalot's superb cross from the left found the unmarked Amad Diallo but from close-range the winger placed his shot wide.
The Seagulls however took the lead on 32 minutes when Joao Pedro's cross from the right found Kaoru Mitoma on the other flank and the Japanese international's cross found the unmarked Danny Welbeck who calmly tapped the ball over the line.
It was Welbeck's 100th career goal. 1-0.
Minutes later Marcus Rashford's close-range effort found its' way into the Albion net but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Half-time 1-0.
Soon after the re-start Pedro played in James Milner whose goal-bound shot was cleared off the goal-line by Dalot. The Seagulls were well on top at this stage and Welbeck twice went close to increasing Albion's lead, firstly seeing his header from Yantuba Minteh's cross saved by United keeper Andre Onana and then seeing his header strike the United crossbar.
Just past the hour the Red Devils were level when on the counter the lively Diallo left Jack Hinshelwood in his wake before curling in a shot which deflected off Jan Paul Van Hecke before ending up in the Albion net. 1-1.
VAR then intervened to chalk off substitute Joshua Zirkzee's goal for offside. Club record signing Georginio Rutter was given his Albion debut as substitute for Yantuba Minteh in the closing minutes. In the fifth minute of time added on the Albion notched the winner in dramatic fashion when substitute Simon Adingra's beautiful dinked cross was headed home by Pedro to set off wild celebrations amongst the Albion supporters. 2-1. A dramatic and well-deserved win for the Albion.
Final-score 2-1.
Match stats: Albion had 14 attempts at goal, with 5 on target and won 4 corners, free-kicks conceded - 9.
United had 11 attempts at goal, with 4 on target and won 4 corners, free-kicks conceded - 13.
VERDICT - A thriller at the Amex, in torrential rain, saw the Albion capture the three points and a deserved win. The Seagulls record reads two wins out of two. The signs are good under new Head Coach Fabian Hurzeler and the Seagulls supporters are rightly looking forward to a more than good season.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Jason STEELE; Joel VELTMAN, Jan Paul VAN HECKE, Lewis DUNK (Capt), Jack HINSHELWOOD; James MILNER (Carlos BALEBA 73), Billy GILMOIUR (Yasin AYARI 90); Yantuba MINTEH (Georginio RUTTER 90), Joao PEDRO, Kaoru MITOMA (Simon ADINGRA 90); Danny WELBECK (Julio ENCISO 79).
Subs not used: Carl RUSHWORTH (G/K), Tariq LAMPTEY, Adam WEBSTER, Igor JULIO.
Manchester United (4-2-3-1):- Andre ONANA; Noussair MAZRAOUI, Harry MAGUIRE (Matthijs DE LIGT 79), Lisandro MARTINEZ, Diogo DALOT; Kobbie MAINOO, CASEMIRO; Amad DIALLO (ANTONY 90), Mason MOUNT (Joshua ZIRKZEE 46), Marcus RASHFORD (Alejandro GARNACHO 65); Bruno FERNANDES (Capt) (Scott McTOMINAY 79).
Subs not used: Altay BAYINDIR (G/K), Toby COLLYER, Chrisitian ERIKSEN, Jonny EVANS.
Referee: Craig Pawson (Sheffield).
Fourth Official: Robert Madley,
VAR Official: Chris Kavanagh.
Yellow Cards: Albion: 1 - Jan Paul Van Hecke.
Manchester United: 2 - Kobbie Mainoo, Amad Diallo.
Possession: Albion - 48%. Manchester United - 52%.
TNT Sports Player of the Match: Joao Pedro (Albion).
Attendance: 31537.
27 AUGUST 2024 - BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 4 ( Simon Adingra 1 - 31 minutes, Jeremy Sarmiento 1 - 48 minutes, Adam Webster 1 - 84 minutes, Mark O'Mahony 1 -86 minutes ) CRAWLEY TOWN 0 -
CARABAO CUP, SECOND ROUND at the AMERICAN EXPRESS STADIUM,
As a change from their Premier League schedule, the Albion welcomed Sussex neighbours Crawley Town to the Amex for a Carabao Cup, Second Round tie, the game being broadcast "live" on BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
The Albion changed their entire line-up from the team which had recorded a thrilling 2-1 win over Manchester United in the Premier on the 24 August. Head Coach Fabian Hurzeler gave midfielder Matt O'Riley, signed from Celtic 24 hours earlier, his Albion debut. There were places on the substitutes bench for the fit-again Pervis Estupinan and Evan Ferguson.
Crawley had gained promotion to Sky Bet League One last season, by virtue of a May play-off win over Crewe Alexandra at Wembley and had made a good start to the current campaign. In the Crawley squad was defender Charlie Barker, son of former Albion player and Crawley Manager Richie Barker.
The teams had met once previously in a competitive match, an FA Cup, Third Round tie at the Goldstone in January 1992, when the Albion ran out 5-0 winners.
Prior to kick-off there was a minute's applause in respect of the passing of former England Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson on the 26 August and also Albion's latest signing. Turkey international defender Ferdi Kadioglu, signed from Fenerbahce (Turkey) was introduced to the crowd.
The game couldn't have got off to a worse start for Albion debutant Matt O'Riley when on 6 minutes a shocking tackle on him by Crawley captain Jay Williams saw the former Celtic player helped off the pitch with what looked like a serious ankle injury. The tackle, or should we say assault by Williams deserved a red card but incredibly Referee Alex Chilowicz took no action.
Ten minutes later another Williams tackle, this time on Julio Enciso, saw the Crawley player get a deserved yellow card. The visitors then decided to play some football and Albion keeper Bart Verbruggen was called to keep out efforts from Ronan Darcy and Josh Flint.
The Seagulls clinically took the lead on 31 minutes when Carlos Baleba found Simon Adingra and the Ivorian ran on to place a shot past Crawley keeper Jojo Wollacott for the Albion's opener. 1-0. A tough first-half for the Seagulls and especially the unfortunate Matt O'Riley.
Half-time 1-0.
Within three minutes of the re-start the Albion virtually clinched the tie when a brilliant run by Enciso ended with Jeremy Sarmiento sending a left-foot into the Crawley net. It was Sarmiento's first goal for the Albion. 2-0. The visitors tried to find a way back but efforts by Junior Quitirna, substitute Ade Adeyemo and Darcy failed to find the target.
The tie was definitely settled when the home side scored twice in the space of three minutes. On 84 minutes Captain Adam Webster headed home Yasin Ayari's corner. 3-0.
Then on 86 minutes Mark O'Mahony pounced on a loose ball before firing in a low shot for the Albion's fourth. It was O'Mahony's first goal for the Seagulls. 4-0.
There was still time for Crawley substitute Jack Roles to be shown a red card for a mindless tackle on Ayari and for Albion Head Coach Fabian Hurzeler and Crawley Head Coach Scott Lindsey to be shown yellow cards for squaring up on the final whistle.
Final-score 4-0.
Match stats:
Albion had 17 attempts at goal, with 8 on target and won 7 corners, free-kicks conceded -10.
Crawley had 9 attempts at goal, with 3 on target and won 6 corners, free-kicks conceded - 15.
VERDICT - The game became aggressive and bad-tempered after the incident involving the injury to Matt O'Riley. One has to question the appointment of a referee with little experience of English football. Although Crawley Head Coach Scott Lindsey apologised to the Albion after the game, it was too late, the damage (to Matt O'Riley) had already been done.
In the Third Round of the competition Albion have been drawn at home to Wolves.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Bart VERBRUGGEN; Tariq LAMPTEY (Odeluga OFFIAH 80), Adam WEBSTER (Capt), Igor JULIO, Imari SAMUELS (Pervis ESTUPINAN 71); Carlos BALEBA, Matt O'RILEY (Mark O'MAHONY 9); Simon ADINGRA, Yasin AYARI, Jeremy SARMIENTO (Jensen WEIR 79); Julio ENCISO (Cameron PEUPION 72).
Subs not used: Jason STEELE (G/K), Malick YALCOUYE, Amario COZIER- UBERRY, Evan FERGUSON.
Crawley Town line-up (3-4-2-1):- Jojo WOLLACOTT; Toby MULLARKEY, Joy MUKENA, Josh FLINT; Jay WILLIAMS (Capt) (Charlie BARKER 59), Max ANDERSON (Panutche CAMARA 59), Cameron BRAGG, Jeremy KELLY (Rafiq KHALEEL 85); Junior QUITIRNA, Ronan DARCY (Jack ROLES 76); Rushian HEPBURN-MURPHY (Ade ADEYEMO 58).
Subs not used: Eddie BEACH (G/K), Antony PAPADOPOULOS.
Referee: Alex Chilowicz (New Jersey, USA).
Red Card: Crawley Town: 1 - Jack Roles.
Yellow Cards:
Albion: 3 - Igor Julio, Yasin Ayari, Fabian Hurzeler.
Crawley Town: 4 - Toby Mullarkey, Jay Williams, Cameron Bragg, Scott Lindsey.
Possession: Albion - 44%. Crawley Town - 56%.
KRL - Matchday Sponsor - Player of the Match: Carlos Baleba (Albion).
Attendance: 19175.
MORE TRANSFERS:
2024
26 AUGUST - MATT O'RILEY - (23) - Midfielder - signed from CELTIC - on a 5-year contract -'
effective until June 2029 - for a fee of £25 million;
27 AUGUST - FERDI KAGIOGLU - (24) - Defender - signed from FENERBAHCE (TURKEY) - on a 4-year contract - effective until June 2028 for a fee of £25 million, plus £4.2 million in add-ons.
28 AUGUST - MARK O'MAHONY - (19) - Forward - joins PORTSMOUTH - on a season-long loan.
NEXT GAME:
31 AUGUST - ARSENAL - Away - Premier League - Kick-Off 12.30. "Live" on TNT Sports.
Jack Kaye.