22 SEPTEMBER 2024
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 2 NOTTINGHAM FOREST 2
PREMIER LEAGUE - at the AMERICAN EXPRESS STADIUM, FALMER.
Unbeaten Albion (4 wins/2 draws) in all competitions, were back at the Amex for a Premier clash with unbeaten Nottingham Forest, the match being televised "live" by Sky Sports and broadcast over the airwaves on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
In their previous Premier outing the Seagulls had drawn 0-0 at home to Ipswich Town on the 14 September and for the visit of Forest made two changes to their starting line-up from the Ipswich game, with Pervis Estupinan and Simon Adingra coming in for Yasin Ayari and Yantuba Minteh.
Last time out Forest had achieved an impressive 1-0 away win in the Premier at Liverpool on the 14 September and for their visit to the Amex Forest made two changes to their starting line-up from that game, with Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga replacing Ryan Yates and Nicolas Dominguez. In their meetings last season, the Albion did the double over Forest, winning 3-2 at the City Ground on the 25 November 2023, with their goals coming from Joao Pedro 2 (45+4m & 58m, penalty) and Evan Ferguson (26m).Forest's goals were scored by Anthony Elanga (3m) and Morgan Gibbs-White (76m, penalty).
In the return game
at the Amex on the 10 March 2024 the Albion won 1-0, by virtue of an Andrew Omobamidele own goal (29m).
Following the early exchanges between the teams, it was the visitors who took the lead on 13 minutes when Carlos Baleba tripped Callum Hudson-Odoi in the box and Referee Robert Jones pointed to the spot. Up-stepped former Albion loanee Chris Wood to calmly slot the resultant penalty-kick past Albion keeper Bart Verbruggen to put Forest ahead. 0-1.
Despite their neat play, the Seagulls were lacking a cutting-edge in the final third. However, the mood of the home supporters changed in the space of three minutes at the end of the opening half. On 42 minutes, Jan Paul Van Hecke sent in a superb cross where Jack Hinshelwood rose above the Forest defence to send a magnificent looping header over keeper Matz Sels and into the Forest net. 1-1.
On the stroke of half-time a mazy run by Kaoru Mitoma was ended by a Ola Alna foul and Danny Welbeck curled the free-kick around the Forest defensive wall from 25 yards out to put the Seagulls ahead. 2-1. A great end to the half by the Albion.
Half-time 2-1.
Forest made three substitutions at the start of the second-half but it was the Seagulls who looked the team most likely as Welbeck's weaving run past three Forest players ended with a shot on target which produced a magnificent save by keeper Sels.
Forest were looking dangerous on the counter and on 70 minutes Morgan Gibbs-White's excellent through pass sent substitute Jota Silva clear of the Albion high-line and Silva's pass found fellow substitute Ramon Sosa who tapped the ball home for Forest's equaliser. 2-2. Just past the 80 minute mark Gibbs-White lunge-tackled Albion substitute Joao Pedro for which he received a yellow card and as it was his second yellow it was followed by a red card and off went Gibbs-White. This incident provoked pandemonium in the proximity of the respective benches and red cards were dished out to the two Head Coaches, Fabian Hurzeler (Albion) and Nuno Espirito Santo (Forest) for their individual protestations.
After this it was anti-climax until the final whistle ended the proceedings.
Final-score 2-2..
Match stats:
Albion had 14 attempts at goal, with 3 on target and won 9 corners, free-kicks conceded - 12.
Foresthad 4 attempts at goal, with 3 on target and won 1 corner, free-kicks conceded - 11.
VERDICT -
The clash of two clubs protecting undefeated records ended all-squsre. Although the Seagulls scored two excellent goals they generally lacked a cutting edge. Despite creating numerous chances, the front players are currently failing to convert these chances. Players like Kaoru Mitoma, Georginio Rutter and Yantuba Minteh need to get their shooting boots on.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Bart VERBRUGGEN; Joel VELTMAN, Jan Paul VAN HECKE, Lewis DUNK (Capt), Pervis ESTUPINAN (Evan FERGUSON 82); Jack HINSHELWOOD, Carlos BALEBA (Mats WIEFFER 62); Simon ADINGRA (Yantuba MINTEH 62), Georginio RUTTER (Joao PEDRO 71), Kaoru MITOMA; Danny WELBECK.
Subs not used: Jason STEELE (G/K), Adam WEBSTER, Igor JULIO, Ferdi KADIOGLU, Julio ENCISO.
Nottingham Forest line-up (4-2-3-1):- Matz SELS; Ola ALNA, Nikola MILENKOVIC, MURILLO, Alex MORENO (Neco WILLIAMS 46); James WARD-PROWSE (Ryan YATES 46), Elliot ANDERSON (Ramon SOSA 59); Callum HUDSON-ODOI, Morgan GIBBS-WHITE (Capt), Anthony ELANGA (Jota SILVA 46); Chris WOOD (MORATO 72).
Subs not used: Carlos MIGUEL (G/K), Nicolas DOMINGUEZ, Eric da SILVA MOREIRA, Taiwo AWONIYI.
Referee: Robert Jones (Merseyside).
Fourth Official: Anthony Taylor.
VAR Official: Peter Bankes.
Red Cards: Albion: 1 - Fabian Hurzeler. Forest: 2 - Morgan Gibbs-White, Nuno Espirito Santo.
Yellow Cards:
Albion: 3 - Lewis Dunk, Carlos Baleba, Danny Welbeck.
Forest: 6 - Morgan Gibbs- White (2), Ola Alna, Neco Williams, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Jota Silva.
Possession: Albion - 71%. Forest - 29%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Murillo (Forest).
Attendance: 31444.
NEXT GAME:
28 SEPTEMBER 2024 - CHELSEA - AWAY - PREMIER LEAGUE - KICK-OFF 15.00.
Jack Kaye.
25 September 2024.