20 DECEMBER 2025
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 0 SUNDERLAND 0 -
PREMIER LEAGUE - at the AMERICAN EXPRESS STADIUM, FALMER.
Matchday 17 saw the Albion entertain Sunderland in the Premier, the match being broadcast by BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
Last time out the Albion had lost 0-2 at Liverpool in the Premier on the 13 December and for the Black Cats visit the Albion made four changes to their starting line-up from the Liverpool game, with Diego Coppola, Olivier Boscagli, Yasin Ayari and Maxim De Cuyper coming in for Jan Paul Van Hecke (unwell), Lewis Dunk (suspended), Carlos Baleba (at the AFCON) and Diego Gomez (suspended).
It was Coppola's first start for Albion in the Premier. Former Sunderland winger Tommy Watson was on the substitutes bench for the Seagulls. Sunderland had gained promotion to the Premier in May 2025 in the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final at Wembley, beating Sheffield United 2-1, with Tommy Watson scoring the winning goal.
Sunderland have made an excellent start to their Premier League campaign under Head Coach Regis Le Bris, last time out beating Newcastle United in the Tyne-Wear derby at the Stadium of Light on the 14 December.
For their visit to the Amex, Sunderland made four changes to their starting line-up from the Newcastle game, with Trai Hume, Lutsharel Geertruida, Chris Rigg and former Seagull Simon Adingra replacing Reinildo Mandava, Noah Sadiki, Bertrand Traore and Chemsdine Taibi (all four players at the AFCON).
First action in a drab first-half saw Sunderland keeper Robin Roefs called into action on three minutes when he saved Mats Wieffer's header. For Brighton, Yasin Ayari showed his rustiness as he missed two good opportunities to put his team ahead by blasting the ball way over the Sunderland crossbar. Albion keeper Bart Verbruggen then saved Daniel Ballard's close-range shot after Jack Hinshelwood's sloppy back-pass had fallen short and then Diego Coppola made a fine defensive block to deny Brian Brobbey. A poor first-half showing by the Albion.
Half-time 0-0.
The Black Cats started the second-half brightly and Verbruggen made a superb save when tipping Omar Alderete's goal-bound header on to the post to keep his team in the game. Ayari continued to waste chances, twice blazing over the bar when well placed nd at the other end substitute Romaine Mundle fired a shot straight at Verbruggen. Ayari then fired a shot straight at keeper Roefs after being set-up by substitute Charalampos Kostoulas, his fifth attempt at goal and his first on target. Tommy Watson substituted for Brajan Gruda on 86 minutes against his former club and in time added on Georginio Rutter's volley was straight at keeper Roefs.
Final-score 0-0.
Match stats:
Albion had 16 attempts at goal, with 4 on target and won 3 corners, free-kicks conceded - 11.
Sunderland had 14 attempts at goal, with 6 on target and won 4 corners, free-kicks conceded - 15.
VERDICT - A forgettable game, with Albion's inability to convert the chances they created sticking out like a sore thumb. A fit, quality and experienced striker should be high on Albion's shopping list.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Bart VERBRUGGEN; Mats WIEFFER (Joel VELTMAN 46), Diego COPPOLA, Olivier BOSCAGLI, Ferdi KADIOGLU; Yasin AYARI, Jack HINSHELWOOD (James MILNER 71); Yankuba MINTEH (Charalampos KOSTOULAS 71), Brajan GRUDA (Tommy WATSON 86), Maxim DE CUYPER (Kaoru MITOMA 64); Georginio RUTTER (Capt).
Subs not used: Jason STEELE (G/K), Joe KNIGHT, Nehemiah ORIOLA, Freddie SIMMONDS.
Sunderland line-up (4-2-3-1):- Robin ROEFS; Nordi MUKIELE, Daniel BALLARD, Omar ALDERETE, Trai HUME; Granit XHAKA (Capt), Lutsharel GEERTRUIDA; Chris RIGG (Habib DIARRA 64), Enzo LE FEE, Simon ADINGRA (Romaine MUNDLE 63); Brian BROBBEY (Wilson ISIDOR 72).
Subs not used: Anthony PATTERSON (G/K), Dennis CIRKIN, Leo Fuhr HJELDE, Harrison JONES, Eliezer MAYENDA, Dan NEIL.
Referee: Darren England (Doncaster).
Fourth Official: Tim Robinson.
VAR Official: James Bell.
Yellow Cards: Albion: 2 - Diego Coppola, Brajan Gruda. Sunderland: 2 - Daniel Ballard, Enzo Le Fee.
Possession: Albion - 57%. Sunderland - 43%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Robin Roefs (Sunderland).
Attendance: 31426.
FOIRTHCOMING FIXTURES:
27 DECEMBER 2025 - ARSENAL - AWAY - PREMIER LEAGUE - KICK-OFF 15.00.
30 DECEMBER 2025 - WEST HAM UNITED - AWAY - PREMIER LEAGUE - KICK-OFF 20.00.
Jack Kaye.