14 MARCH 2026
SUNDERLAND 0 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1
PREMIER LEAGUE - at the STADIUM OF LIGHT.
Looking for their first Premier League away win since the 30 November 2025 (2-0 at Nottingham Forest), the Albion made the long trip to the North East to meet Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, the game being broadcast by BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
In their previous game, the Albion had lost 0-1 at home to Arsenal in the Premier on the 4 March and for their visit to the Stadium of Light the Albion made four changes to their starting line-up from the Arsenal game, with Lewis Dunk, James Milner, Yankuba Minteh and Danny Welbeck coming in for Olivier Boscagli, Carlos Baleba, Kaoru Mitoma and Georginio Rutter.
Last time out Sunderland had surprisingly lost 0-1 at Port Vale in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup on the 8 March and for Albion's visit Head Coach Regis Le Bris made four changes to his starting line-up from the Port Vale game, with Trai Hume, Granit Xhaka, Noah Sadiki and Brian Brobbey replacing Luke O'Nien, Enzo Le Fee, Nilson Angulo and Eliezer Mayenda.
Sunderland had gained promotion to the Premier in May 2025 by virtue of a 2-1 Play-Off Final win over Sheffield United and had made a good impression with a series of good results in their initial season in the Premier.
It was the Seagulls who created the early opportunities as Yankuba Minteh's ball into the box found Jack Hinshelwood whose point-blank shot was saved by the outstretched foot of Sunderland goalkeeper Melker Ellsborg. From the resulting corner Pascal Gross's shot from the edge of the box shaved the outside of the post. Next, it was the Black Cats going close as Lewis Dunk blocked a Chemsdine Taibi effort on his own goal-line. Hinshelwood then had a glorious chance to put the visitors ahead but keeper Ellsborg got back to make the save.
Prior to the break Sunderland had a couple of chances as Chris Rigg fired wide of the target and Albion keeper Bart Verbruggen palmed away Lutsharel Geertruida's goal-bound effort.
Half-time 0-0.
Early in the second-half Rigg thought he had volleyed the Black Cats ahead but VAR adjudged that a Sunderland player was offside in the build-up and the goal was chalked off. On 58 minutes the Albion went ahead when a corner was re-cycled to Minteh on the Albion right, the winger weaved his way along the bye-line before sending a scooped shot past unsighted keeper Ellborg. 1-0.
Minutes later Mats Wieffer's pass found Diego Gomez in space some fifteen yards out but the Paraguayan's shot flashed way over the bar. The Seagulls, as a unit managed the remaining minutes comfortably, much to the delight of their travelling contingent of 2450 fans.
Final-score 1-0.
Match stats:
The Albion had 12 attempts at goal, with 4 on target and won 3 corners, free-kicks conceded - 12.
Sunderland had 14 attempts at goal, with 4 on target and won 7 corners, free-kicks conceded - 7.
APPRAISAL: Three more valuable points gained by the Albion at a difficult place to win It was a good team effort, the line-up containing a solid mixture of experience and youth Next up for the Seagulls, a visit from last season's champions Liverpool this weekend, the game being covered "live" by TNT Sports.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Bart VERBRUGGEN; Mats WIEFFER, Jan Paul VAN HECKE, Lewis DUNK (Capt), Ferdi KADIOGLU; James MILNER, Pascal GROSS; Diego GOMEZ (Joel VELTMAN 90+4), Jack HINSHELWOOD (Yasin AYARI 88), Yankuba MINTEH (Maxim DE CUYPER 76); Danny WELBECK (Matt O'RILEY (90+5).
Subs not used: Jason STEELE (G/K), Olivier BOSCAGLI, Harry HOWELL, Solly MARCH, Georginio RUTTER.
Sunderland line-up (4-1-4-1):- Melker ELLBORG; Lutsharel GEERTRUIDA, Daniel BALLARD (Luke O'NIEN 64), Omar ALDERETE, Trai HUME; Granit XHAKA (Capt); Chris RIGG, Habib DIARRA, Noah SADIKI, Chemsdine TAIBI (Dennis CIRKIN 85); Brian BROBBEY (Eliezer MAYENDA 78)
Subs not used: Simon MOORE (G/K), Harrison JONES, Jenson JONES, Jaydon JONES, Jack WHITTAKER, Wilson ISODOR.
Referee: Thomas Kirk (Yorkshire).
Fourth Official: Samuel Barrott
VAR Official: John Brooks.
Yellow Cards: Albion: 2 - Diego Gomez, Yankuba Minteh. Sunderland: 1 - Granit Xhaka.
Possession: Albion - 52%. Sunderland - 48%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Yankuba Minteh (Albion).
Attendance: 45497 (including 2450 Albion fans).
NEXT GAME:
21 MARCH 2026 - LIVERPOOL - HOME - PREMIER LEAGUE - KICK-OFF 12.30. "LIVE" ON TNT SPORTS 1
Jack Kaye.
19 March 2026.