Brighton moved second in the Premier League with a commanding 2-0 home win over 10-man Brentford, sealed by a Diego Gómez stunner and a Pascal Gross penalty. The result extended Brighton's remarkable run, which has seen them trail only Arsenal in the standings and continue to set standards that leave most rivals behind.
Dominant display at the Amex
Returning to the Amex after five away trips covering more than 5,000 miles, including victories at Manchester City and Getafe, Brighton resumed normal service. Brentford, a club often compared to Brighton but with a different outlook, were swatted aside under low winter sun and given little chance of rescuing anything from the contest.
Brentford announced their strategic intentions with an up-and-under straight from the kick-off, which Bart Verbruggen caught on the full, previewing an easy afternoon for the Brighton keeper. Maxim de Cuyper made a mess of Brighton's first big chance, heading over from Pascal Gross's cushioned volley.
Gómez and Gross strike
Diego Gómez's goal was not as spectacular as his halfway-line effort against Crystal Palace but a beauty nonetheless. Caressing the ball first with his left and then with his right, he laid up a thrash past Caoimhin Kelleher, its trajectory unerring and unstoppable. The Paraguayan does not do tap-ins.
Brighton's second came from the penalty spot. Luka Vuskovic, previously serving as a deep-lying playmaker, won the penalty when Keane Lewis-Potter snatched his shirt in response to a physical 18-yard box mismatch. Gross's penalty was struck as truly as Gómez's goal, just as unstoppable for Kelleher.
Red card and Brentford's response
The path to victory came via another means. Igor Thiago did not last many minutes beyond his failed attempt to lob Verbruggen. Scuffling in midfield with Chema Andrés, his shove was first ruled a yellow by referee Michael Oliver, but the video assistant referee, Stuart Attwell, advised a more serious punishment. Thiago's push had landed on the more diminutive Andrés' face, inadvertent and soft-looking, though always unlikely to favour Brentford. "Violent conduct" and "with force" came the verdict from Stockley Park, and the Brazilian will now miss the rest of Brentford's November assignments.
Andrews, straying beyond the confines of his technical area, asked his team to dig deep. Once Brentford reverted to a five-man defensive shell, Brighton's dominance of possession became near-total, reaching beyond 75%. A set-piece became Brentford's sole route back into the game, though Mathias Jensen's looping diagonal straight into Verbruggen's hands would not have passed muster in rugby's Nations Championship.
Brighton's push continues
Brighton's response to Brentford's brief lift of pressure was to retake control and continue to work their personnel advantage. Yasin Ayari's expertise in finding scoring positions created two chances before he was replaced by Jack Hinselwood, who found similar space to drill wide. Hurzeler, like Andrews straying beyond the confines of his technical area, would not countenance any let-up. As Brighton continue to meet the demands of their coach, so many others are being left in their wing mirrors.
