It was, as they say, déjà vu all over again as Kaoru Mitoma scored a late winner for the second match in succession, so it was hardly surprising that every writer in the Amex press box led their reports of Albion’s 1-0 victory over AFC Bournemouth with the Japan winger’s header. But there was also the return of Moises Caicedo to consider as well as the continuing pursuit of a European place, and even what we might agree to call a triple near-miss from Deniz Undav to flesh out their work.
The Sun sent their Formula One man Ben Hunt to the game and he wrote that “Brighton’s man from Japan proved as sharp as a Samurai to keep the Seagulls in the hunt for European football.
“Kaoru Mitoma headed home his fifth goal in his last seven games in a match that was otherwise lacking in clinical finishing.
“The winger, signed for just £2.5million from Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale, again impressed as Brighton looked to have unearthed another gem.
“All the pre-match talk was about Moises Caicedo, who came on as a substitute to cheers, but it is likely the Ecuadorian will be back in the starting XI to face Crystal Palace.
“Bournemouth were given a couple of early let offs as the home side made a cracking start. Inside the opening 90 seconds, Neto dropped the ball under pressure from Danny Welbeck while the keeper redeemed himself with a tackle on Deniz Undav, who was bearing down on goal.
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“But in their next exchange, it was difficult to figure out which player was worst. Neto's clearance proved to be a 20-yard pass straight to the German.
“Maybe he could not believe his luck, as he squandered THREE chances. His first effort was blocked by Chris Mepham, his second was saved by Neto while his third attempt struck the post.”
Amex regular Kieran Gill pulled all three strands together early on in The Mail on Sunday, writing: “Kaoru Mitoma did it. Again. And Brighton have done it. Again.
“Mitoma scored for the third successive game, the 25-year-old Japan winger's looping header here securing a deserved Premier League win. And Brighton have found another gem, the latest in a long line of them.
“Just £2.5million. That’s all Mitoma cost Brighton when he joined from Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale. Ridiculous, really, the knack this South Coast club has for sourcing such talent.
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“The Amex Stadium erupted when Mitoma scored in the 87th minute. It was a moment that had been building, ever since Deniz Undav unleashed a trilogy of misses that someone, somewhere, will be adding Benny Hill theme music over the top for social media giggles. So when it finally became 1-0, you could feel the relief inside the Amex.
“When Caicedo was introduced as a substitute in the 57th minute, Brighton’s supporters showed they hold no grudge. They sang his name and with Caicedo's help and Mitoma's winner, Brighton now sit sixth in the Premier League and remain firmly in the hunt for European football under Roberto De Zerbi.”
In The Observer, Ed Aarons noted that “scoring late winners is starting to become something of a knack for Kaoru Mitoma. Six days after his wonder strike knocked holders Liverpool out of the FA Cup, the Japan winger was at it again as Brighton overcame a dogged display from a Bournemouth team fighting for their life against relegation to maintain their own remarkable push for Europe.
“By Mitoma’s recent standards, this had been a relatively quiet afternoon until the last five minutes as the visitors frustrated Roberto De Zerbi’s side and could even have taken all three points had they been more clinical. Yet having now scored five goals in his last seven appearances, the 25-year-old who wrote his university thesis on the art of dribbling is the player making all the difference for Brighton at the moment as they moved to within two points of fifth-placed Tottenham.
“With Alexis Mac Allister serving a suspension, De Zerbi had resisted the temptation to recall Moisés Caicedo after his flirtation with Arsenal during the transfer window and instead left the Ecuador midfielder on the bench until the second half as his side chased the victory. He was greeted by loud cheers from the home supporters when he replaced Billy Gilmour just before the hour mark, with compatriot and fellow substitute Jeremy Sarmiento providing the cross for Mitoma to loop in his header in the dying minutes.”
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Gary Jacob joined in the praise for Albion’s number 22 in The Sunday Times: “The winger is in rich form, heading a winner three minutes from time on a day when Moises Caicedo was warmly cheered when returning from the cold.
“Brighton were far from their fluent best but they continue a pursuit of European football thanks to Mitoma’s fourth goal in five league matches. He laid the ball wide and drifted between defenders to meet Jeremy Sarmiento’s cross only a week after his finish dumped Liverpool out of the FA Cup.
“Before Caicedo came on, Brighton’s midfield lacked intensity and up front they missed Evan Ferguson, who is out with a bruised knee.”
Tom Prentki also deployed the E word in The Sunday Telegraph. “Kaoru Mitoma scored for the third game in a row to provide Brighton with a late winner which strengthens their push for a European place.
“Just as an entertaining goalless draw was petering out, the Japanese winger headed in at the near post to leave Brighton just two points behind Tottenham in fifth and extend their unbeaten run to six games.
| Pos | Team | Pld | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5
|
LIV
|
38 | +28 | 67 |
|
6
|
Albion
|
38 | +19 | 62 |
|
7
|
AVL
|
38 | +5 | 61 |
“There was even a welcome return to the side for Moises Caicedo, who was greeted with a rapturous applause as he came off the bench for the final third of the game.”
Lewis Jones of Sky Sports gave an encouraging post-match verdict. “It's pinch yourself territory for Brighton fans when it comes to the Premier League table,” he wrote. “This is a club that is no longer transitioning towards the top; they are dining there with a team at the top of their game and a structure behind the scenes that is streets ahead of most of their Premier League rivals. It's an unwavering approach, with an unbelievable ability to adapt and pivot - clearing hurdles at a canter. A push for Europe is most certainly on the cards.
“Change of manager? No problem. Loss of top scorer in January? Players in reserve. First-choice midfielder wants to leave? Options elsewhere. Everything thrown at them they seem to have an answer for. Even the Moses Caicedo situation, amid interest from Arsenal, was swiftly dealt with. No fuss. No problems. Roberto De Zerbi didn't even need a man that could have yielded the club £60m in January from the start, such is the strength and confidence he has instilled within his players. The Seagulls are flying.”
On the BBC website, Matthew Howarth pointed out an interesting fact that put the gaining of three more valuable points into perspective: “Caicedo's omission meant Brighton started a league game without either the Ecuadorian or the suspended Mac Allister for only the second time this season, the other occasion being the 4-2 defeat at home by Arsenal on 31 December,” he wrote.
“The Seagulls, who were also without in-form teenager Evan Ferguson through injury, looked set to draw a blank for the first time in a Premier League game since October until Mitoma's late effort.
“Caicedo was given a rousing reception by the Brighton supporters when he entered the fray just before the hour mark, but it was the midfielder's compatriot Estupinan who came to the home side's rescue midway through the second period by throwing himself in front of Semenyo's shot.
“Brighton's late pressure eventually told, though - Neto getting a hand to Mitoma's header but failing to stop the ball crossing the goal-line.”