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Brentford Secures First Home Premier League Victory Since December Against Brighton
Brentford celebrated a significant win at home, triumphing over Brighton with a score of 4-2. This victory marked their first home Premier League win since December. The match was notable not only for Brentford’s performance but also for the challenges faced by Brighton, including the sending off of Joao Pedro and an injury to Jan Paul van Hecke.
The star of the match for Brentford was Bryan Mbeumo, who scored twice and assisted Yoane Wissa for another goal, contributing significantly to the win. Mbeumo’s performance showcased his scoring capabilities, bringing his total to 18 Premier League goals this season.
Brighton managed to level the score briefly with a header from Danny Welbeck just before halftime. However, the momentum shifted when Joao Pedro received a red card for violent conduct following an altercation with Nathan Collins. This incident, occurring as the ball was sent skyward from a long kick by Bart Verbruggen, saw Pedro strike Collins in frustration, leading to a VAR review that confirmed the severity of the action.
Despite being a man down, Brighton kept the pressure on Brentford and brought the score to 3-2 through Kaoru Mitoma’s goal in the closing stages of the match. Yet, Brentford sealed the win when Christian Norgaard scored in stoppage time, ensuring no further drama ensued.
The game concluded on a concerning note as Brighton’s Van Hecke received medical attention for eight minutes after a head collision and was taken off the field on a stretcher, requiring oxygen. Post-match, Brighton’s manager, Fabian Hurzeler, did not have updates on Van Hecke’s condition.
Brighton now finds themselves without a win in their last five Premier League matches. During the second half, the away supporters expressed their discontent towards Hurzeler regarding a substitution involving Danny Welbeck, which led to chants questioning the manager’s decisions.
Player Ratings:
Brentford: Flekken (7), Kayode (7), Van Den Berg (7), Collins (7), Lewis-Potter (7), Norgaard (7), Yarmoliuk (7), Damsgaard (7), Schade (7), Mbeumo (9), Wissa (8)
Subs: Janelt (7), Konak (7), Jensen (7), Nunes (7), Henry (7)
Brighton: Verbruggen (6), Hinshelwood (6), Van Hecke (6), Dunk (5), Estupinan (5), Baleba (7), Wieffer (7), Minteh (6), O’Riley (6), Joao Pedro (4), Welbeck (7)
Subs: Mitoma (8), Ayari (7), March (7), Gomez (6)
Player of the Match: Bryan Mbeumo
In response to fan chants during the match, Hurzeler remarked, “That’s fine. They have their opinion. The team played well after that.”
March on Van Hecke: ‘A Big Hit on the Head But I Think He’s OK’
After the match, Solly March, a Brighton winger who entered the game in the second half, provided an update on Van Hecke’s condition. He stated, “I’m not totally sure [what the situation is]. I think he has gone for a scan. He seemed to be speaking but he seemed a bit dazed. It was a big hit on the head. Hopefully, he’s alright. That’s the main thing, hopefully.” March added, “It was just unfortunate. It was one of those things. Unfortunately, it’s part of football. But as long as he is okay. That’s the main thing. I think he should be and hopefully he is.”
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