The Media Review: Leicester City

The i Paper’s intro to its report of Albion's 2-1 victory over Leicester City on Sunday summed up the positives from their afternoon's work. 

“Brighton had to work hard and survive scares yesterday but by the final whistle they had their fourth victory in five Premier League games and had consolidated their best-ever top-flight start to a season. They were in a Champions League place in the early table and had made more club history with their first Premier League victory over Leicester City in nine attempts.”

Can Graham Potter’s men continue to ride high all season? Ian Baker of The Mirror thought so. He wrote that “Brighton fans sang 'We're all going on a European tour'. And after they survived a thrilling Leicester fightback you may just start to believe them.

“For an hour, this was just about the most complete performance you can get with Neal Maupay’s penalty and Danny Welbeck’s header putting them 2-0 ahead. It is now four wins in five at the start of the season for Graham Potter’s side – their best ever top-flight start at this stage.

“And if you are owner Tony Bloom and fans, now is the time just to get a little bit excited. Leicester, who showed signs of fatigue after their midweek Europa League exploits, offered nothing in the first half apart from an early Youri Tielemans effort. It was Brighton who bossed the game after that as all players impressed.”

The Telegraph’s online reporter wrote that “Brighton are making history, but they put their fans through an emotional wringer at the Amex Stadium yesterday” before detailing the first-half action: “Brighton came close to opening the scoring after 13 minutes. Marc Cucurella, on his home debut after joining from Getafe for £15m, found Neal Maupay and the forward’s shot on the turn was deflected over his own crossbar by Jannik Vestergaard. 

“Leandro Trossard began to find space between the Leicester lines and Solly March could have done better than shoot straight at Schmeichel after the ball was worked to him on the right of the penalty area. And in the 25th minute Adam Lallana put an even better chance high into the seats after running on to a loose ball 20 yards out.

“The pressure told after 32 minutes when Brighton were awarded a penalty, VAR confirming that a header by Shane Duffy from Trossard’s corner had struck the arm of Vestergaard, although the defender protested - with every justification but in vain - that he had been fouled by Maupay. Unconcerned by the controversy, the French forward dispatched the kick past Kasper Schmeichel with an impressive confidence.” 

Tom Barclay of The Sun took up the tale. “Maupay had some demons to put to bed with the penalty, having had one saved by Kasper Schmeichel in a 0-0 draw at the King Power during Project Restart two seasons ago. Schmeichel dived to his right that day and had he done the same again here he would have had a strong chance of repeating the feat.

“Yet this time the Foxes skipper went to his left with Maupay opting for the opposite corner to claim his third Premier League goal of the season.

“Brighton had failed in their search for a new striker in the summer but the way Maupay has started this campaign, perhaps a new forward recruit was not as essential as some thought.

“The visitors fell another goal behind when Welbeck flicked home Leandro Trossard’s free-kick. It was a classy finish from the former Manchester United and Arsenal striker who has had a new lease of life since coming to the south coast. The header also meant Welbeck became the first player to score a Premier League goal in each of the last 12 seasons.”

After that, though, things became a little uncomfortable. Sonia Twigg of the Press Association detailed Leicester’s comeback on the Guardian website. 

“Leicester halved the deficit just after the hour mark, with substitute Ademola Lookman playing a clever back-heeled one-two with Youri Tielemens who sent in a well-timed ball to the back post which was calmly slotted into the net by Vardy. The visitors appeared to have secured an equaliser when Lookman scuffed a volley into the back of the net, but it was ruled out.

“The assistant referee had raised his flag for offside with VAR upholding the decision, with Barnes in the line of sight of goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and was offside as the ball came into the former Fulham player.

“Leicester looked to have equalised for a second time, only for Wilfred Ndidi’s header to be ruled out for another offside from Barnes, who was ruled to be obstructing Sanchez, also for a second time.”

According to Gary Jacob in The Times, “for Brighton it was the rub of the green that they often missed last season as they continued their best start to a top-flight season by moving above Manchester City into the top four. They were aggressive in the first half and hung on to enjoy a first win over Leicester at a ninth attempt.”

The upshot, according to Riath Al-Samarrai of the Daily Mail, might be unwanted attention paid to some of the club’s assets. 

“The question used to [be] what Brighton might achieve if they ever finished what they started. Now they have acquired that useful knack of converting their chances, it is morphing into one of where it might end.

“Not so much in terms of football's grander prizes, but more in regard to big climbs on lucrative ladders. That goes as much for the club as it does their brilliant manager, Graham Potter.

“Any more of this carry on, any more time spent in the domain of the bigger beasts, and the poachers will come to town. Thing is, it wouldn't be a surprise to see a club take a punt on Potter anymore. Not in the slightest.

“He was that good when his side made a lot and scored very little in finishing 16th last season, and he is demonstrably riding a wave now that far less is being wasted.

“They were third in the immediate aftermath of this result, incredibly, and propped by one of the best defences across a calendar year.

“With four wins in five, it is looking very rosy indeed, even if this one was supported rather contentiously by the VAR and its vagaries.”

True, but for now we can simply enjoy the moment. All together now: “We’re all going on a European tour …!”