This week, we have a very important game against Leeds United, who though struggling present a hard task. Then there is Crystal Palace at Home on Wednesday. We start with the views of the manager
Roberto de Zerbi's Press conference
4 MARCH 2023 -
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 4 ( MacAllister 1pen, Veltman 1, Mitoma 1 Danny Welbeck 1 )
WEST HAM UNITED 0
PREMIER LEAGUE - at the AMERICAN EXPRESS COMMUNITY STADIUM, FALMER
Eighth-placed Albion (35 points/22games) entertained sixteenth-placed West Ham United (23 points/24 games) in a Premier League game at the Amex, the match being broadcast over the airwaves on BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
Last time out in the Premier the Seagulls had lost 0-1 at home to Fulham on the 18 February. To cap a bad day at the office, Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi was shown a red card after the end of the Fulham game and had to contend himself with a seat in the stands for this one. Albion made two changes to their starting line-up from the Fulham game, with Jason Steele and Tariq Lamptey replacing Robert Sanchez and Joel Veltman, the latter two dropping down to the substitutes bench.
Since their promotion to the Premier League in 2017 the Seagulls were unbeaten against the Hammers in their eleven meetings.
In their previous Premier League outing West Ham had beaten Nottingham Forest 4-0 at the London Stadium on the 25 February and for their visit to the Amex, West Ham Manager David Moyes made two enforced changes to his starting line-up from the Forest game, with Alphonse Areola and Emerson Palmieri replacing Lukasz Fabianski and Vladimir Coufal (both injured).
In the reverse fixture earlier this season on the 21 August 2022 at the London Stadium, the Albion ran out 2-0 winners, with their goals coming from Alexis MacAllister, penalty (22m) and Leandro Trossard (66m).
Last season, the teams drew 1-1 at the London Stadium on the 1 December 2021, with Tomas Soucek (5m) scoring for the Hammers and Neal Maupay (89m) netting late on for the Albion. In the return fixture at the Amex on the 22 May 2022, the Seagulls won 3-1, with their goals being scored by Joel Veltman (50m), Pascal Gross (80m) and Danny Welbeck (90+2m), after Michail Antonio (40m) had put the Hammers ahead.
It was all Albion from the start and early on West Ham keeper Alphonse Areola had to make regulation saves to keep out on-target efforts from Evan Ferguson and Solly March. The Seagulls lost the services of defender Tariq Lamptey on 16 minutes, due to a knee injury, Joel Veltman substituting. Albion deservedly took the lead on 18 minutes after Hammer's Jarrod Bowen had pushed Kaoru Mitoma over in the box and Alexis Mac Allister converted the resultant penalty-kick for his sixth goal of the season. 1-0. The Hammers bounced back and Albion keeper Jason Steele made a fine save to deflect Bowen's low shot and Steele then made a smart save to deny Tomas Soucek. Just prior to the break Mitoma came close to increasing Albion's lead but a fine defensive intervention by Hammers defender Ben Johnson denied the Japanese international. Half-time 1-0.
The second-half started with Albion in the ascendancy and efforts by Mac Allister (twice) and Moises Caiedo went close for the home side. The Seagulls notched a second on 52 minutes when Pascal Gross's corner was flicked on by Mac Allister to Veltman who had the easy task of chesting the ball home from two yards out. 2-0.
Seagulls continued to control the game and shots by Ferguson (twice) and March went close. Albion's third arrived on 69 minutes when Ferguson and Gross set-up Mitoma to score at the far post. This goal sparked a mass exodus by a number of dispirited West Ham supporters. 3-0. Substitute Julio Enciso joined the fun on 83 minutes and within seconds keeper Areola made a fine save to deflect his shot on to the crossbar. On 89 minutes Danny Welbeck, on as a substitute for Pervis Estupinan, made space on the edge of the area before drilling a low shot past Areola and into the net. 4-0. A fine afternoon's work by the Albion and three more valuable points. Final-score 4-0.
Albion had 20 shots at goal, with 9 on target and won 7 corners, free-kicks conceded - 6.
West Ham had 3 shots at goal, with 2 on target and won 3 corners, free-kicks conceded - 8.
TO SUM UP - The above statistics speak for themselves. Seagulls dominated West Ham from start to finish. If Albion can bring consistency to their game, then European football is a strong possibility, Credit to Tony Bloom and his board, coaches and players for the happiness and pride they have given to their supporters.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Jason Steele; Tariq Lamptey (Joel Veltman 16), Adam Webster, Lewis Dunk (Capt), Pervis Estupinan (Danny Welbeck 76); Pascal Gross, Moises Caicedo; Solly March (Facundo Buonanotte 75), Alexis MacAllister, Kaoru Mitoma (Julio Enciso 83); Evan Ferguson (Jeremy Sarmiento 83).
Subs not used: Robert Sanchez (G/K), Jan Paul Van Hecke, Billy Gilmour, Deniz Undav.
West Ham United line-up (4-2-3-1):- Alphonse Areola; Ben Johnson, Nayef Aguerd, Angelo Ogbonna (Kurt Zouma 69), Emerson Palmieri; Tomas Soucek (Flynn Downes 75), Declan Rice (Capt); Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta (Manuel Lanzini 75), Said Benrahma (Pablo Fornals 46); Danny Ings.
Subs not used: Krisztian Hegyi (G/K), Aaron Cresswell, Gianluca Scamacca, Joseph Anang (G/K).
Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).
Yellow Cards: West Ham United: 3 - Tomas Soucek, Declan Rice, Jarrod Bowen.
Possession: Albion - 66%. West Ham United - 34%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Kaoru Mitoma (Albion).
Attendance: 31523.
FA CUP - STOKE CITY V BRIGHTON
28 FEBRUARY 2023 -
STOKE CITY 0
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1 ( Evan Ferguson 1 - 30 minutes ) -
EMIRATES FA CUP, FIFTH ROUND - at the BET 365 STADIUM, STOKE.
As a change from their Premier League routine, the Albion travelled to the Potteries to meet Sky Bet Championship side Stoke City at the Bet 365 Stadium in the Fifth Round of the Emirates FA Cup, "live" in front of the ITV4 cameras and broadcast by BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
In their previous outing the Seagulls had lost 0-1 at home to Fulham in the Premier on the 18 February and for the trip to the Potteries Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi made five changes to his starting line-up from the Fulham game, with Jason Steele, Jan Paul Van Hecke, Tariq Lamptey, Facundo Buonanotte and Jeremy Sarmiento coming in for Robert Sanchez, Joel Veltman, Adam Webster, Pervis Estupinan and Solly March. Skipper Lewis Dunk was making his 400th senior appearance for the Seagulls.Argentinian Facundo Buonanotte was given his first Albion start.
Stoke City occupied a middle of the table position in the Sky Bet Championship and late in 2022 had changed manager, tempting Alex Neil to leave Sunderland to replace the previous incumbent Michael O'Neill.
Albion showed their Premier League credentials from the start and after seven minutes Facundo Buonanotte saw his shot turned around the post by Stoke goal-keeper Jack Bonham. Jason Steele in the Albion goal was then tested as he made a fine save from a Tyrese Campbell shot. Campbell then had a low shot gathered by keeper Steele. The Seagulls took the lead on the half-hour with a quality goal,Lewis Dunk threaded through a pass to Kaoru Mitoma on the left, who in turn sent a slide-rule pass into the box to the alert Evan Ferguson and the Irishman slotted the ball home. It was Ferguson's fifth goal of the season. 1-0.
Prior to the interval, keeper Steele was called into action again, this time saving a shot from JordanThompson. Half-time 1-0.
The first real action of the second-half saw keeper Bonham make a full-length save to deflect a Jeremy Sarmiento drive. Stoke then came close to equalising when Axel Tuanzebe headed inches wide from Thompson's free-kick. Between the 69th and 79th minutes the Albion made four substitutions with a view to maintaining their lead, Joel Veltman for Buonanotte (69m), Deniz Undav for Ferguson (69m), Julio Enciso for Mitoma (75m) and Danny Welbeck for Sarmiento (79m). These changes were productive as Bonham saved from Welbeck, Undav lobbed narrowly wide from 25 yards out and then Welbeck was unlucky to see his shot strike the post from close-in. In the end a comfortable win for the Albion and the third time they have reached the quarter-final stage of the FA Cup in six seasons, where they will meet giant-killers Grimsby Town at the Amex on the 19 March.
Final-score 1-0.
Albion had 14 shots at goal, with 3 on target and won 5 corners, free-kicks conceded 10.
Stoke City had 11 shots at goal, with 3 on target and won 3 corners, free-kicks conceded - 14.
SUMMARY - Albion's win showed and reflected their Premier League status and they rightfully progressed to the quarter-final stage of the FA Cup for the third time in six years. Their reward, a home tie with League Two side Grimsby Town on the 19 March. Albion now have a great chance of reaching the FA Cup semi-final and another visit to Wembley Stadium.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Jason Steele; Pascal Gross, Jan Paul Van Hecke, Lewis Dunk (Capt), Tariq Lamptey; Alexis Mac Allister, Moises Caicedo; Jeremy Sarmiento (Danny Welbeck 79), Facundo Buonanotte (Joel Veltman 69), Kaoru Mitoma (Julio Enciso 75); Evan Ferguson (Deniz Undav 69).
Subs not used: Robert Sanchez (G/K), Adam Webster, Andrew Moran, Jack Hinshelwood, Tom McGill (G/K).