Brighton & Hove Albion and Sunderland played out a goalless draw at the Amex Stadium on Saturday, in a Premier League encounter that highlighted both sides' current narratives. The result extends Brighton's peculiar December curse, while Sunderland earned a valuable point despite being severely depleted by international call-ups.
Seagulls' Festive Frustration Deepens
For Brighton supporters, the festive season is becoming synonymous with frustration on the pitch. The Seagulls are now on the longest ongoing winless run in December in the top-flight. Their last victory in this month came two years ago, a 4-2 win over Tottenham at the Amex.
The pattern is repeating this campaign. Roberto De Zerbi's side entered December just two points off third place, but that gap has now widened significantly. They have managed to pick up only two points from their last four league outings, a run that has stalled their early-season momentum.
Sunderland's Squad Depth Shines Through
One of the major talking points before the match was how Regis Le Bris's Sunderland would cope without a staggering six players lost to the Africa Cup of Nations. This is twice as many as any other Premier League club, and the missing quartet of Reinildo Mandava, Noah Sadiki, Bertrand Traore, and Chemsdine Talbi all started in last weekend's derby win over Newcastle.
Yet, the Black Cats delivered a resolute and organised away performance. They dominated the first half and remained defensively compact throughout, suggesting their squad has the depth to handle this challenging period. However, the concern remains that an injury could quickly test that resilience to its limits.
Brighton's Attacking Worries Mount
The stalemate marked a third consecutive match in which Brighton have scored just once—a contentious equaliser against West Ham. The lack of a cutting edge is a growing concern. While Danny Welbeck has seven Premier League goals this season, his best-ever return, the Seagulls look short of ideas without the 35-year-old leading the line.
Their second-highest scorer is centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke with three, who was absent through illness. With only two other players having scored more than once, the over-reliance on Welbeck is stark. The January transfer window is looming, and the need for a new striker is becoming increasingly urgent with each goalless outing.
Goalkeepers Take Centre Stage
In a game of few clear chances, the two goalkeepers emerged with credit. Sunderland's Robin Roefs made a strong early save to deny Mats Wieffer and commanded his area authoritatively throughout. At the other end, Brighton's Bart Verbruggen was equally impressive, making two excellent second-half stops to deny headers from Omar Alderete and a late shot from Dan Ballard.
It was an afternoon where the shot-stoppers ultimately decided the outcome, leaving fans of both sides acknowledging a solid defensive display but perhaps wishing for more attacking ambition.
