The Media Review: Albion's revenge at the City Ground

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Defender Max De Cuyper's goalscoring display ensured he was the key man in the papers' round-ups.

Nick Szczepanik

2025-12-01T09:55+00:00

Lewis Dunk enjoys the celebrations after Stefanos Tzimas made it 2-0 at the City Ground. 📷 by James Boardman.

The national media have taken a keen interest in various Albion players this season – pondering Danny Welbeck’s England chances, for instance. But it was a fair bet that few of the reporters in the City Ground press box on Sunday came prepared to praise the performance of Maxim De Cuyper.

That all changed after Albion’s Belgium defender turned into a key attacking force in the 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.

Declan Olley led the acclaim on the Sky Sports website. “Last season, Brighton were humiliated at Nottingham Forest after they lost 7-0 at the City Ground in February,” he wrote.

“Nearly 10 months on, the Seagulls got revenge for that embarrassment with a brilliant win that shows they are serious contenders for a European spot this season.

“Key to the victory was Maxim De Cuyper - a player who did not experience that thrashing in the East Midlands last season - as Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler deployed the summer signing to great effect in a new position on the left wing.

“From there, the Belgium international raided up the left and helped Brighton attempt nine shots in the opening 20 minutes of the match - their most ever in that period of a Premier League match.

“And it was De Cuyper who deservedly made the breakthrough to cap off a fine first-half display. The 24-year-old was then awarded the man of the match as he created the most chances (4) and attempted the most crosses (4) of any Seagulls player.”

Will Unwin also had good things to say in The Guardian. “It seemed fitting that a left-back playing on the wing set the great innovators Brighton on their way to fifth,” he wrote. “Maxim De Cuyper opened the scoring as the Seagulls enacted revenge on Nottingham Forest for the 7-0 defeat last season.

“Brighton failed to make the most of their early dominance but Stefanos Tzimas removed the nerves late on.

“The first whistle failed to wake Forest from a nap against a fizzing Brighton team. By the time the minutes ticked into double figures, Brighton had enjoyed four good opportunities, the final one seeing Georginio Rutter’s shot blocked on the line.

“Brighton targeted Forest’s right-hand side, putting Nicolò Savona under constant pressure thanks to the left-back De Cuyper who was deployed further upfield and able to find space, putting in numerous dangerous crosses.

“In theory, there were as many red shirts as blue and white ones on the pitch but Brighton gave the impression of having more men. They were repeatedly running in behind, notching seven shots in the opening quarter-hour against an error-riddled Forest.

Maxim De Cuyper gets away from Nicolò Savona. 📷 by James Boardman.

“It took until first-half injury time for Brighton to take the lead when a free-kick was recycled by Bart Verbruggen, and Rutter slipped the ball through for De Cuyper in space to do the rest. If his teammates had shown similar levels of clinical finishing earlier, the game would have been out of sight by this point.

“Dyche responded at the break by sending on Omari Hutchinson and Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Only the last-ditch efforts of defenders was keeping them at bay, before doubling the lead when Tzimas made the most of Morato’s 88th-minute mistake.

“Brighton showed both sides of their game, the explosive attacking play and hardened defence, something Fabian Hürzeler will have enjoyed witnessing.”

Max firing is in front at The City Ground! 🔥 Highlights in partnership with @MPBcom. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/z3m812mTdN
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) November 30, 2025

Graham Hill of The Sun concentrated on Albion’s reaction to the events of last season. “They might have had to endure a 10-month wait, but revenge was sweet for Brighton at City Ground,” he wrote.

“In February, Fabian Hurzeler’s side left Nottingham shell-shocked after being on the end of a 7-0 defeat. But the determination not to suffer a similar fate, against what had been a free-scoring Forest side, was clear from the start.

“The humiliation of that hammering would have hurt everyone connected with the Seagulls – but this was a slice of pure redemption. But not only did they halt the Sean Dyche revival in its tracks, but Brighton also moved to fifth place in the Premier League.

“After a dominating first half, Hurzeler’s men had to wait until first-half stoppage time to break the deadlock when Maxim De Cuyper netted from 10 yards out.

Bart Verbruggen has kept three cleansheets in his last four Premier League games. 📷 by James Boardman.

“Forest hit back after the break – and if their pressure had paid off, they would have been good for a point. But their defensive insecurity returned with two minutes left.

“Morato got in a mess with a poor back header with goalkeeper Matz Sels racing out of his goal. Brighton took advantage as Morato tried to back-heel his way out of trouble.

"But Brajan Gruda kept going – and when he was tripped by Sels, Brighton sub Stefanos Tzimas followed up to roll the ball into an empty goal.”

On the BBC website, Adwaidh Rajan reported that “after the 7-0 defeat, manager Fabian Hurzeler reportedly burnt his tactical plans for the match in front of his players. Brighton looked like they had a point to prove on Sunday as they search for a spot in Europe.

Fabian Hurzeler's team are fifth in the Premier League after their 2-0 win at Forest. 📷 by James Boardman.

“In fact, Hurzeler's men had more than 65% of possession and registered nine shots inside the opening 20 minutes - the most attempts ever during that period of a Premier League match.

“And their pressure paid off as De Cuyper, who had troubled the Forest backline with his deliveries into the box, bagged his second goal for the club since signing from Club Brugge in the summer.

“The visitors had to dig in to see off Forest's efforts in the closing stages but Tzimas, who replaced Danny Welbeck in the 65th minute, eased the pressure by opening his Premier League account with two minutes left to play.”