'Mine and Haaland's fight was fair

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'Mine and Haaland's fight was fair - and enjoyable!'

Dutchman's delight with point against City ahead of United test.

Neil Moxley

2026-01-09T14:00+00:00

'Give us a lift, Erling!' 📸 by James Boardman.

Jan Paul van Hecke stepped out of a battling show at the Etihad saying, “This proves we can go toe-to-toe with anyone.”

Albion secured a point from a 1-1 draw with the Dutch defender enjoying a tough tussle throughout with ace Norwegian goalgetter Erling Haaland.

Manchester City’s man netted from the spot before the break but Kaoru Mitoma’s finish on the hour earned a share of the spoils as he collected a crossfield pass from Yasin Ayari, the winger making his way across the area before firing low into the bottom corner from the edge of area.

Albion enjoyed the best chance to win it and the centre-half believes the visitors’ merited something for their efforts.

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

He said, “Before the start, we spoke a lot about the game against Arsenal where, first-off, we didn’t really show up. That gave them confidence.

“We said: ‘From the start tonight, boys,’ because if you are not there, Manchester City are a difficult team to chase.

“Of course, we had to come from behind - and I think we played well - you saw in the second-half that we played some really good stuff.

“Yes, they had some chances but we had the biggest one and it could have been different if we had gone 2-1 up but, in the end, I think it’s a deserved point.

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Battling Albion earn a deserved point at Etihad Stadium after Kaoru Mitoma's 60th minute strike. Club photographer James Boardman was there to capture the action against Manchester City.

“And we know from the past that we can beat every team and go toe-to-toe with them. I think we did that again.

“Now it’s about consistency. Doing that every week. I know I’m repeating myself - but that’s the key to our season.

“I think we can still do great things - if you look at the league, how tight it is and, of course, we now have the FA Cup - a great game away to Manchester United.”

Albion’s stopper did not take a backward step against Haaland, giving as good as he got in an eye-catching tussle.

“It’s always a really hard battle, especially against him. He's probably the best striker in the world - and you try to do everything to stop him and sometimes he puts everything on the line. You put everything on the line as well.

“When the ball’s there, we both try to win it. In a fair way, of course. And it’s hard because he’s fast, strong and he can finish. But I think there’s a respect from both of us.

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.

“It gives me a confidence-boost. I have played against him before. I actually quite enjoyed it.”

Albion return to the north-west on Sunday to face Manchester United and our defender believes that a precedent set last season shows what could be done.

“It’s a tough draw but a nice one - and we have showed before that we can beat them. We didn’t really play our best game in the Premier League earlier this season and we could have done loads better.

“But we have shown before that we can do good things. There’s still more in us. And you saw last season what can happen.”