Media review: Leicester City

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How the websites and newspapers viewed Sunday's 2-2 draw.

Nick Szczepanik

2024-12-09T11:00+00:00

Tariq Lamptey's shot is on its way in to give Albion the lead. 📷 by James Boardman.

Mirror Football's social media team got a little carried away during Albion’s match at the King Power Stadium, announcing “three points secured against Leicester for Brighton as Yankuba Minteh latches onto a pass, beats Victor Kristiansen and finished past Mads Hermanson.”

But they had posted too soon, and the Foxes hit back to deny Fabian Hurzeler’s men two points that should have been theirs on the balance of play.

Opinions among the match reporters differed as to what went wrong. Graham Hill of The Sun thought that “Brighton were cruising to victory and fifth place in the Premier league thanks to Tariq Lamptey’s super strike and sub Yankuba Minteh. But Fabian Hurzeler’s side took their foot off the gas.”

Tom Collomosse of the Daily Mail wrote that “perhaps fatigue caught up with Brighton. Fabian Hurzeler’s team played only last Thursday, which meant Leicester had an extra two days’ rest.”

Yankuba Minteh doubles Albion's lead. 📷 by James Boardman.

In The Guardian, Peter Lansley thought not, writing that “Hurzeler’s side may have had two days fewer to recover from their midweek exertions but with four changes to their starting XI, they looked the more incisive throughout the first period.”

But all agreed that the chances piled up for Albion. “Joao Pedro somehow put Lamptey’s cross wide from eight yards and Mads Hermansen did brilliantly to turn away Pervis Estupinan’s ferocious drive from the edge of the box,” the Mail report said.

“The visitors made Leicester nervous at the back. Ten minutes before the break, Georginio Rutter robbed Victor Kristiansen on the Brighton right. Joao Pedro played it into the path of [Evan] Ferguson, who fooled Wilfred Ndidi and teed up Kaoru Mitoma. From close to the spot where Pedro had missed, Mitoma skied his effort.”

Eventually the pressure told and, as Lansley reported, “it was no surprise when the visiting team gained the lead. Lamptey switched the play from right to left whence his opposite wing-back Estupinan overhit his cross back beyond the far post. Lamptey collected the ball, cut back inside on to his left foot and proceeded to curl a beauty into the far top corner.

Danny Welbeck was inches away from scoring with this late free-kick. 📷 by James Boardman.

“It was his first Premier League goal since November 2020, a record that was placed in context five minutes later when, let in on goal by Jordan Ayew’s mistake, the Ghanaian opted to square rather than shoot on entering the corner of the six-yard area.

“Yankuba Minteh, a £35m transfer from Newcastle United in the summer after impressing while on loan at Feyenoord under Arne Slot last season, came on for Pedro midway through the second period and promptly added to Brighton’s lead within 10 minutes.

“Mats Wieffer, also signed from Feyenoord in the summer, played a long channel ball for the Gambian to hustle his way past Kristiansen and slot home. That looked like game set and match for Brighton.”

If only. As John Percy wrote in the Daily Telegraph, “Brighton’s manager Fabian Hurzeler was struggling to comprehend how his team had thrown away three points in the rain. Tariq Lamptey’s brilliant goal and an individual effort from substitute Yankuba Minteh had temporarily hoisted Brighton into fifth place – and three points behind Arsenal in second – before the late collapse.

“Brighton had squandered several chances, particularly in the first half, yet it still appeared unlikely that their wastefulness would be punished.”

Pervis Estupinan, who created Albion's first goal, takes a tumble as he challenges Kasey McAteer. 📷 by James Boardman.

On the BBC website Charlotte Coates wrote that ‘Europe again, ole, ole’ was being chanted by the travelling Brighton fans and with good reason as the Seagull's were sat fifth - just a point behind Manchester City in fourth.

“However, no one would have predicted what happened next as the Seagulls let two points slip through their fingers as they finish the game week in seventh, rather than fifth.

“Fabian Hurzeler's side may even feel as though they have missed out on possibly occupying fourth after dominating proceedings at Craven Cottage on Thursday, but ultimately falling to a 3-1 defeat. A recurring theme in the last two matches for Brighton is the inability to finish games off when in complete control - like today at the King Power Stadium. The Seagulls could well be five points better off than they are now and they will be feeling the 2-2 draw as if it was a loss.”

Patrick Rowe made a similar point on the Sky Sports website but looked back a little farther. “It is now 14 points lost from winning positions for Brighton, which is more than any other side in the Premier League,” he wrote.

“No team can win every game but if they had secured even half of those points that have evaded them, they would be sitting comfortably in second. Three games without a win and heading into a tough clash against rivals Crystal Palace is not an ideal situation to be in. Especially with confidence low.”