We all have bad days at the office, but most of us do not have a press box full of reporters watching us, ready to issue instant verdicts on our performances.
Unfortunately for the Albion players, footballers do, and if there was any consolation in the reports of the 3-1 defeat away to Nottingham Forest, it was that the Midlands-based writers tended to praise the home side’s efforts and rather overlooked some costly Albion errors.
According to John Percy of The Daily Telegraph, “’I Believe In Miracles’ is the title of the brilliant documentary focusing on Nottingham Forest’s European Cup glory days, and supporters are continuing to dream of a sequel.
“Forest have clambered out of the bottom three to deliver another twist in this season’s absorbing Premier League relegation battle, completing a miserable few days for Brighton and Roberto De Zerbi.
“Brighton’s season could still have a memorable ending but this was another chastening experience after that agonising defeat by Manchester United in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final.
“De Zerbi described this as the “most important game” of Brighton’s season but it ended with only their third league defeat of the year.”
Charlotte Duncker of The Times managed to find kind things to say. “It felt as if the writing was on the wall for Forest after Facundo Buounanotte scored his first Premier League goal to give the visitors the lead,” she wrote. “Keylor Navas had initially denied Solly March but could only push the ball to the Argentine who tapped in.
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“A lot is said about Brighton’s structure off the pitch being so impressive but it is on it that has brought them so much success this season. They move quickly with neat one touch passing creating pockets of space as they go and they’re so well drilled each player knows where they should be going.
“Alexis MacAllister and Kaoru Mitoma both had shots from outside of the area saved by Navas but it was when they passed intricately around the box that they were at their most dangerous.
“But this wasn’t a night of victory for the football purists. Brighton had more possession, a better structure and the better chances. But Forest responded to what Cooper had been asking of them in the past few weeks; to show fight, grit, passion and resilience.
Forest fan Daniel Storey understandably concentrated on the Tricky Trees in his report in The i, but was not without sympathy for the visitors. “Keylor Navas continued the theme of his short Forest career to date, pulling off the saves you do not expect him to make and then spilling a less vicious shot,” he wrote. “Obviously, it was Facundo Buonanotte who met the rebound.
“A few minutes later, the crowd turned for the first time this season. Brighton can be the worst type of team to play in such circumstances. They pass the ball around their backline with almost comical lethargy, tempting a rash opponent into a foolish dash out of position, at which point they click through the gears and exploit the space.
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“But they are forgiven for some emotional fatigue of their own. Brighton played 120 minutes plus at Wembley on Sunday and lost an FA Cup semi-final in demoralising circumstances, in a penalty shoot-out to a team whose goalkeeper does not save penalties. They looked lethargic, beaten-up and ready for a break.
“Having missed presentable chances, the obvious joke was that Forest might need Brighton to score for them. The relegation genie grants you your first wish: a cross that looked tame on delivery struck at least one Brighton defender and beat Jason Steele at his near post.”
In The Guardian, Pete Lansley wrote of one of those chances that “Neco Williams did not take too much persuasion to go down himself under Pervis Estupiñán’s ninth-minute challenge but there was definitely contact. The anticipation of celebration was tangible but Johnson sent his spot-kick at a nice height for the recalled Jason Steele to save to his right.
“Keylor Navas made an implausible reaction save to divert Julio Enciso’s shot over the crossbar as the FA Cup semi-finalists took charge. They had made five times more passes than Forest midway through the half and when Solly March cut back inside and shot, Navas was culpable for giving up a rebound for Buonanotte to prod home.
“But if Brighton thought that was it, Forest had other ideas. In the last moments of the first half, Taiwo Awoniyi held the ball up among his spiderly legs and invited Renan Lodi to fizz in a cross from the left. The City Ground erupted as the ball deflected off Pascal Gross and into the near top corner of Steele’s net.
“Brighton, meanwhile, promised to be as devastating as ever. One counterattack allowed Estupiñán to release Buonanotte who offered Mitoma the chance to score, but his shot went wide.
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“How Forest capitalised on the reprieve. Awoniyi may look awkward at times but when he managed to prod the ball forwards, it offered Danilo the momentum to sprint away from the Brighton defenders before steering his right-foot shot home on the angle.”
Tom Collomosse of The Daily Mail wrote that “there have been some bizarre games in this Premier League season but this one will take some beating.
“Nottingham Forest climbed out of the relegation zone with their first win in 12 matches as Brighton failed to shake off the pain of losing an FA Cup semi-final three days earlier.
“Roberto De Zerbi’s team had 17 shots, seven on target, and were technically far superior to their opponents yet Forest often looked more dangerous as Steve Cooper did a number on the Italian.
“The Welshman became one of the first managers this season to crack the Brighton code and his team are now a point above the bottom three.
“Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi may regret making only three changes to his starting XI after the defeat on penalties by Manchester United at Wembley.
| Pos | Team | Pld | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5
|
LIV
|
38 | +28 | 67 |
|
6
|
Albion
|
38 | +19 | 62 |
|
7
|
AVL
|
38 | +5 | 61 |
“Johnson had the chance to give Forest the lead from the spot when Williams robbed Pervis Estupinan and was fouled but Jason Steele flew to his right to keep out the kick.
“Brighton took the lead seven minutes before the break. It was a double howler from Keylor Navas, who cleared straight to Buonanotte and then pushed Solly March’s shot straight into the path of the 18-year-old, who tapped home.
“‘Buonanotte means ‘Goodnight’ in Italian and at that stage it looked like an appropriate comment on Forest’s survival hopes.”
Graeme Bryce of The Sun thought that “the rest of the nation might have been glued to their seats as two titans tussled for the title at the Etihad. But no-one at the City Ground was reaching for their smartphones to take a sneaky peek at what Manchester City and Arsenal were getting up to.
“There was more than enough drama unfolding here on Trentside to keep everyone engrossed during 90 frantic minutes of sheer bedlam. It all kicked off within four minutes of the kick-off when Brighton new boy Buonanotte took a tumble in the box under pressure from Morgan Gibbs-White.
“The furious Forest star literally lifted the Argentine kid off the turf by the scruff of his neck and that was the cue for a free-for-all, which ended with Felipe being booked for grabbing Julio Enciso by the throat.
Thank you to the 2531 Albion fans who made the trip to Nottingham last night, and to everyone supporting from afar. 💙👏 pic.twitter.com/9XoPjgrbPI
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) April 27, 2023
“Pleasantries over, Albion conceded a foolish penalty inside 10 minutes. Pervis Estupinan decided to try and dribble out of danger inside his own box after taking down a Morgan Gibbs-White cross. Neco Williams pounced on him and the left-back bundled him to the turf to gift Forest an early penalty.
“Brennan Johnson stepped forward on his 100th appearance for Forest but there was nothing to celebrate as Steele hurled himself to his right to brilliantly beat the ball away with both palms.
“Brighton hit back and it took a world class reflex save from Keylor Navas to touch over Enciso's point blank shot from 10 yards. They took the lead following some dreadful goalkeeping by Navas.
“The former Real Madrid No.1 fluffed his goal-kick straight to Buonanotte who broke forward and played in Solly March. Brighton's Wembley fall-guy fired in a shot which Navas then pushed weakly into the path of the young Argentine who snapped up the gift to score on his Premier League debut.
“At that point you feared for Forest but, roared on by a frenzied home support, they hauled themselves back into it with a goal three minutes into first half stoppage time.
“MGW and Danilo combined, Awoniyi laid the ball into Lodi's path and the Brazilian's low shot flew off the outstretched toe of Pascal Gross into the roof of his own net, despite Steele getting his fingers to it.
“Brighton blew it by trying to over play as Moises Caicedo was sacked by Danilo in the centre of midfield. The ball broke to Awoniyi who helped it on and Danilo sprinted clear to expertly drill the ball beyond Steele to send the City Ground wild.
“Forest were flying and they finally broke Brighton two minutes from time. Lewis Dunk got under a Gibbs-White corner and the ball clipped his outstretched hand. Although Gillett didn't initially award the penalty, VAR had a look and confirmed the offence.
“And Morgan Gibbs-White sent Steele the wrong way to haul his side out of the relegation zone, before Undav's disallowed goal finally brought the curtain down on this belter.”