The writers attempting to stay dry while crafting their first-edition match reports in the Amex press box on Sunday agreed that Albion had most of the chances but not much of the luck.
Not surprisingly in view of their exposure to the elements, a number referenced the downpours that punctuated the 1-1 draw against Fulham.
Riath Al-Samarrai of The Daily Mail wrote that “even managers who appear to walk on water get soggy from time to time. This would seem to be one of those periods for Roberto De Zerbi.
“Granted, a spell comprising Manchester City, Liverpool and Aston Villa was never going to be straightforward, but not many teams have been better than Brighton in the 14 months since De Zerbi's arrival, so it is a measure of progress that anything less than a sprint can feel like a crawl.
“In this instance, it had the slight ring of an off-day, which was strange in consideration of how they dominated the first half.
“They had led through Evan Ferguson's fifth goal of the season and at that stage they were the usual carousel of movement and quality, with Kaoru Mitoma shredding calves on the left and Simon Adingra breaking hearts on the right.
“It was Fulham's good fortune that the hosts scored just once, following a loose ball forward from Harrison Reed, triggering a fast counter from Gross and culminating in a high-quality finish from Ferguson.”
Ditto Neil McLeman in The Daily Mirror, “It was a damp squib for Brighton who have still to beat their bogey team Fulham in seven Premier League meetings - and De Zerbi’s side are now winless in four top-flight games.
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“The lively Carlos Baleba brought the first save from Bernd Leno and the German goalkeeper then denied the Adringra with his legs after a Lallana ball to the far post. Baleba, Adingra and Kaoru Mitoma all had further shots before Pascal Gross marked his 200th Premier League appearance for Brighton with an assist for Ferguson’s fifth Brighton goal of the season after 26 minutes.”
Isabelle Barker of The Sun mentioned another meteorological phenomenon. “A rainbow descended on the Amex and two minutes later the luck of the Irish arrived,” she wrote.
“Igor Julio and Pascal Gross were involved in the build-up before teeing up Ferguson who took a touch and cracked the ball beyond Leno. It was his fifth Prem goal of the season - more than any other player aged 21 or younger.
“The Seagulls emerged from the restart with even more pep and it took just two minutes for Lewis Dunk to crack the woodwork with a dipping and curling free-kick.”
Most writers noted the visitors did not attempt to match Albion’s attacking approach. “Whether it was time-wasting or tetchy confrontations, the visitors did whatever was necessary to disrupt Brighton’s usual flow in a pugnacious second half,” wrote Ivan Speck in The Daily Telegraph.
“Fulham might even have won the game with an audacious back-heel flick from substitute Rodrigo Muniz kept out by Brighton keeper Jason Steele. That would have been cruel on the home side whose measured first-half display typified their approach under Roberto De Zerbi.
“They would have established a surely unassailable 2-0 lead early in the second half had a Lewis Dunk free-kick dipped fractionally quicker instead of landing on the top of the Fulham crossbar.”
Sam Dalling of The Guardian agreed, noting that Fulham could consider themselves lucky to finish the game with eleven men on the field.
“Fulham came to frustrate,” he wrote. “And so Brighton had to pull and stretch, poke and prod. Adam Lallana showed just what a lovely footballer he remains. A shimmy and cross saw Simon Adingra almost poke Brighton into the lead. Bernd Leno got there first. Just.
“Brighton’s goal came when Fulham forward Raúl Jiménez, not counting on Igor Julio’s close attention, was pickpocketed. Julio found Pascal Gross. One Ferguson right-footed touch. One left-footed finish made to look far easier than it was. One De Zerbi pirouette of joy.
“Had Lewis Dunk’s bar-grazing free-kick after half-time been a few inches lower, the equaliser might not have happened. Had Palhinha been punished for a first-half elbow on Gross, the equaliser would not have happened.”
Gregor Robertson took a stats-based approach in The Times. “Brighton & Hove Albion’s attempts to navigate Europa League Thursday nights and Premier League Sundays have done little to dull the attacking instincts of Roberto De Zerbi’s thrilling side but unfortunately the same cannot be said for their defensive resolve,” he wrote.
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“This 1-1 draw against Fulham means that Brighton have both scored and conceded in all ten of their Premier League games this season (Tottenham Hotspur, in 1988-89, were the last side to do so).
“Ferguson’s opener made the Ireland striker the first teenager to score ten or more Premier League goals in a calendar year since Wayne Rooney in 2005.
“It says everything about the Brighton striker’s burgeoning talent that, once he had controlled with his right foot, and cocked his left, it felt inevitable that the net would rustle. The finish was stroked beautifully into the far corner.
“Fulham, like many visitors to the Amex these days, began the game with a clear game plan of not being drawn into Brighton’s trap. Easier in theory than practice, however, and by the end of the opening 45 minutes they were fortunate that the deficit was not greater.
“Brighton’s combinations on the wings were causing Fulham constant irritation. They have scored in their past 25 league games — going back to a 1-0 defeat by Fulham in February — but unfortunately they entered this fixture having already shipped 18 league goals and were longing for a Premier League clean sheet. The wait goes on.”