Nothing, it appears, can cease Brighton proper now.
Not Manchester United. Not Arsenal. And never Sunderland, who by no means regarded like breaching a visiting rearguard which comfortably held agency after Pascal Struijk’s controversial 57th-minute crimson card.
Fabian Hurzeler’s males, who had opened the scoring moments earlier by way of Maxim De Cuyper, conjured a pleasant late second by way of Jaouen Hadjam to seal one other excellent win.
SEAGULLS CONTINUE TO SOAR
This was Brighton’s fourth straight victory in all competitions and lifted them to inside two factors of the Premier League summit.
Earlier than the worldwide break, they gained 5-0 at Coventry and beat Arsenal 3-0, both aspect of a powerful 3-2 Carabao Cup victory at Previous Trafford.
This newest success was not fairly at instances however Hurzeler’s males steadily made their superiority pay.
Maxim De Cuyper was on the scoresheet for Brighton as they moved to inside two factors of the highest of the Premier League
Nobody can cease Fabian Hurzeler’s aspect proper now, and Sunderland by no means actually bought shut
Within the 53rd minute, effervescent captain Pascal Gross’s clever go discovered De Cuyper and he drove a superb, first-time shot previous Robin Roefs.
Gross, 35, was named the Premier League Participant of the Month for September and Hurzeler smiled: ‘I evaluate Pascal to an excellent wine – the older the higher. Let’s have a look at how good the wine will get.’
Struijk then noticed crimson after being adjudged to have hauled down Wilson Isidor as he threatened to interrupt clear.
Neither referee Thomas Bramall nor his assistant gave a foul initially, however video assistant referee (VAR) Neil Davies intervened and Struijk was dismissed.
Brighton defended beautifully after which hit their hosts on the counter-attack late on when Georginio Rutter’s intelligent go discovered fellow substitute Hadjam and he rifled house an excellent left-foot end.
A lot is product of Brighton’s capability to chop groups aside with fairly passing however this was a win chiselled on obstinate defending.
Hurzeler mentioned: ‘I sound a bit old skool now however there is a saying ‘defence wins championships’… though I am not talking about championships!
‘Defence wins video games and we’re recognized for enjoying good soccer however we do not need to be this good membership anymore.
‘We need to be a group who performs efficient soccer and this was an excellent begin.’
Pascal Gross (centre) gained the Participant of the Month award for the league final season and picked up one other help right here
Regis Le Bris’ aspect struggled to make an influence in attacking areas with Brian Brobbey lacking
BLACK CATS LACK BITE
With striker Brian Brobbey lacking by way of harm, Wilson Isidor was tasked with main the road however struggled to make any actual influence.
Veteran captain Granit Xhaka additionally misfired in midfield and subsequent up for Sunderland is a visit to Portuguese outfit Torreense within the Europa League.
Brighton, in the meantime, host Lithuanian aspect Kauno Zalgiris within the Convention League.
