There are no prizes for guessing what was the main focus of many of the reports of Albion’s 5-0 victory away to Sheffield United. The challenge on Kaoru Mitoma that earned United’s Mason Holgate a red card was described in The Times as a ‘horror tackle’ and ‘a contender for the worst foul of the season.’
But let us give thanks that our Japan winger’s left leg is still attached to the rest of him and move on to the more enjoyable descriptions of what followed, which was a mostly relaxed afternoon in the South Yorkshire sun for Roberto De Zerbi’s men.
In The Daily Telegraph, John Aizlewood wrote that “soon after Holgate’s madness, Brighton were two ahead, first when Lewis Dunk headed back Pascal Gross’s corner for Facundo Buonanotte to bundle home. Then Gross enabled Mitoma to force a fine Wes Foderingham save, before Danny Welbeck smashed home.
“With Mitoma unplayable on the left and Gross pulling every midfield string, Brighton set up camp in United’s half.
“If the first half was non-stop, the second was a non-event. United held out until they conceded two in three minutes: Jack Robinson inadvertently turned Mitoma’s cross in, before Simon Adingra swept Gross’s cross past Foderingham, Gross’s ninth assist of the season, a Premier League record for Brighton.
“A late fifth gave the scoreline a more realistic air when Adingra’s deflected effort looped over Foderingham but the afternoon, in all the wrong ways, belonged to Holgate.”
Sam Dalling of The Guardian had not been sure what to expect at Bramall Lane. “Of all the characteristics that make Roberto De Zerbi’s version of Brighton such fun, their unpredictability ranks high,” he wrote.
“They are very capable of horrid days. But, and with a higher frequency, they can also deliver 90 minutes of mesmerising beauty. Their Sunday in Sheffield was, aided by the most amenable of hosts, without doubt the latter.
“Facing only 10 opponents for much of the game, it was, for the most part, akin to a training ground exercise. Facundo Buonanotte and Danny Welbeck grabbed a pair of quickfire first-half goals while, much later, a Jack Robinson own goal was rapidly followed by Simon Adingra’s double. ‘We want six,’ the delighted travellers yelled; ‘we want one,’ came the lone cry of one exasperated Sheffield United fan in response.
“Even by the standards of Brighton’s usual high line, having a defensive trio regularly comfortably exchanging possession way beyond the opposition centre-circle was telling.
“Pascal Gross spent his afternoon providing deliveries with unnerving accuracy; Kaoru Mitoma danced deliciously away on the left; and everything between must have felt like death by a thousand passes for United.
“After Holgate’s dismissal, Brighton acted quickly and decisively to kill the contest. First, Gross floated a corner in Lewis Dunk’s direction at the back post. He headed back across for Buonanotte to finish despite the valiant attempts of a United duo on the line.
“For his next cross, Gross plucked a pitching wedge from his bag and delivered a deliciously inviting ball for Mitoma darting in at the far post. Wes Foderingham’s palm was strong, as too though, was Welbeck’s follow-up volley.
“Brighton continued their hypnotic passing and it was a tad surprising it took so long for a third to arrive. It came via the unfortunate Robinson, whose attempt to cut out Mitoma’s cross went badly awry. Three quickly brought four and five. Adingra first meeting Gross’s cross, then beating Foderingham with the help of a heavy Trusty deflection.”
In The Daily Mail, Dominic King wrote of “the patterns of passing and ruthless finishing of a Brighton team that are relentlessly determined to qualify for Europe once again and give head coach Roberto De Zerbi something to consider this summer when he will undoubtedly be festooned with offers.
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“They were brilliant, particularly in the second half when their ball retention and patience chipped away and eroded Sheffield’s belief, to the point that the dam burst and a face-saving 2-0 scoreline became a 5-0 skewering.
“Presenting Brighton with the opportunity to pass the ball around boasting a numerical advantage was going to the equivalent of sitting in a chair while a hypnotist gently rocks a clock in front of your eyes – left, right, left, right they went under.
“Sheffield United aren’t going to avoid relegation and the gulf in class between them and Brighton was colossal, a team of journeymen being taken apart by a team of well-coached, highly motivated footballers: at one point is like watching a school’s sixth form team take on the intake of first years.”
| Pos | Team | Pld | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10
|
BOU
|
36 | -11 | 48 |
|
11
|
Albion
|
35 | -4 | 47 |
|
12
|
WOL
|
36 | -11 | 46 |
In The Sun, Owen Paul also talked up Albion’s chances of another European campaign. “Having won here 5-2 in the FA Cup, it’s now ten goals at Bramall Lane for Brighton in the last three weeks,” he wrote.
“Brighton’s biggest win of the Prem season - and the first time they’ve ever scored five on the road in the top flight - is a huge result for their European chances, having not won away in six.
“Leapfrogging West Ham and Newcastle into seventh, the Champions League may be out of reach but a successive top-six finish is well within their sights.”
On the BBC website, Joe Rindl noted that “even before Holgate's dismissal De Zerbi's side were routinely carving forward.
“Adingra, back from winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast, had a cross deflected off Ahmedhodzic and was narrowly kept out by a diving Foderingham.
“At 2-0, Yasser Larouci twice cleared off the line for United - denying Mitoma and Gross from close range - while Foderingham also smartly kept out Welbeck and Mitoma.
“It is Brighton's biggest win away from home in the top flight, and they have now scored four or more goals seven times in all competitions this season.
“De Zerbi's seventh-placed team now face sides who are in the bottom half of the table in their next five games, starting with Everton next weekend.”
Finally, a nod to our number 13 from Kevin Parvizi of website The Trivela Effect, “There are so many talented players on Brighton, but nobody stands out more than veteran playmaker Pascal Gross, who had a performance that had to be seen to be believed against Sheffield,” he wrote.
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“On paper, it may look like Gross had just the one assist, but this was legitimately one of the best single-game performances of any player in European football this season – if not THE best.
“Look at the numbers. Gross had eight key passes and nine accurate crosses, completing an absolutely absurd 97 per cent of his passes on a total of 113 passing attempts. That is a historically great passing day.
“For a playmaker to be that accurate and still create such a volume of chances is extraordinary, and it speaks to all of Gross's traits that have made him one of the best players in his role in Europe over the years, whether in Germany or England. Take a bow for this one, Mr. Gross.”