Bart delighted with defensive solidity

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Keeper praised the protection he got in the 1-1 draw against Manchester City.

Neil Moxley

2026-01-08T11:25+00:00

Bart Verbruggen gets his point across during the 1-1 draw at the Etihad. 📷James Boardman

Bart Verbruggen thanked his colleagues for their protection as Albion left the Etihad with a point following a gusty 1-1 draw.

The Dutch international was full of praise for his teammates who stood up to be counted as Pep Guardiola’s title-chasers were forced to settle for a point.

Verbruggen was not as busy as his opposite number, Gianluigi Donnarumma, during the 90 minutes and he said that was because those Albion players in front of him were a wall of yellow-shirted defiance.

He said: “I wasn’t the only one who made saves. I think Ferdi Kadioglu made one off the line. JP (van Hecke) big block, Dunky (Lewis Dunk) big block. Hinchy (Jack Hinshelwood) took one off the line.

Brighton's first away trip of 2026 takes Fabian Hurzeler's men to the Etihad to face Pep Guardiola's Manchester City. Highlights in partnership with @mpbcom. Buy, sell and trade used camera gear. https://bit.ly/MPB457

“I think they put in a very big shift. It was a good result in a tough place against a very good team. But we had spells as well especially in that first hour, we played very well in possession.

“They had the ball as well but we tried to play our own game and win like that. We managed to get a draw. I think we can be happy with that and move on.”

Albion face a trip to Manchester United on Sunday for a tie in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup.

It has been a week of turmoil at Old Trafford in the wake of manager Ruben Amorim’s departure but the keeper believes that Albion are on an upwards trajectory and can profit.

He said: “I think we have to focus on ourselves. If we continue to improve the way we have in the past couple of weeks we can make it difficult for any team with any manager. The club has been going in a great direction in the last few years. We are athletes and we are winners and we want to win something with this club.

Fabian Hurzeler gives his reaction to a well-earned point at the Etihad, plus Jan Paul van Heck on his titanic battle with Erling Haaland.

“We always believe, you know? We have a lot of quality and we showed it against Manchester City. We still have things to improve but we work well every day and that’s where the belief comes from.

“I do believe we can win a major trophy and the FA Cup would be really nice one. This is a chance to do that. It’s very important that we take it very seriously.”