Reporting a goalless draw throws up an obvious problem for any football writer: with no goals to describe and no scorers to praise, what is the best way in to the story?
Reporters at Brentford’s Gtech Stadium faced that very dilemma after Albion’s 0-0 stalemate. Some went with thoughts about the record profits Albion had posted the day before, others with chairman Tony Bloom’s rivalry with Bees owner Matthew Benham.
Alan Smith of The Mirror, in contrast, decided that the central incident was referee Andy Madley sticking to his guns after VAR invited him to look at a possible penalty incident.
“Thomas Frank and Roberto De Zerbi watched their teams play out a drab draw notable only for a VAR rarity from referee Andrew Madley at the Gtech Stadium,” he wrote. “Neither were at their sharpest here and the game’s only talking point arrived on the stroke of half-time when referee Madley was sent to the pitch-side monitor by VAR Michael Oliver to review a tussle between Yoane Wissa and Lewis Dunk in the Brentford penalty area.
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“But replays showed that Dunk pulled the home forward’s shirt first and instead of pointing to the spot, the ref gave Brighton’s skipper a firm talking to. It was just the second time all season that a VAR recommendation was rejected by the referee - after Darren England initially awarded Aston Villa a penalty against Crystal Palace.
“Joao Pedro, back after nine games out with injury, and Facundo Buonanotte drew saves from Mark Flekken. That led to a period of Albion dominance approaching the interval as Igor Julio, Adam Lallana and Simon Adingra all tried their luck from range - before Madley's moment restored some faith in the VAR process.”
Ed Aarons of The Guardian found some match action worth describing. “Brighton at last found some rhythm as Carlos Baleba began to impose himself in midfield and Adam Lallana saw his effort from 25 yards out fizz past the post.
“The Cameroonian then forced Flekken into a save after controlling the ball on his chest, with the referee, Andrew Madley, ruling that Lewis Dunk had fouled Wissa first when they tangled at the resulting corner despite being sent to review the incident by VAR.
“Wissa thought he should have had a penalty himself at the start of the second half after going shoulder to shoulder with Jan Paul van Hecke but Madley again waved away the appeals. De Zerbi pulled his coat up over his head in reaction to Facundo Buonanotte being shown a yellow card for a reckless foul on Nathan Collins.
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“Frank threw on Bryan Mbeumo in the hope of snatching a late victory but Danny Welbeck had the best chances to win it when he headed wide before dragging a shot wide in injury time, to his manager’s clear frustration.
The Daily Telegraph reporter saw a different incident as pivotal, writing that “It had been a good week for Brighton owner Tony Bloom with the announcement on Tuesday of the club’s record profits of £122.8 million. But last night's match put a dampener on any celebrations.
“A long-standing feud with his former employee Matthew Benham, the Brentford owner, means that Bloom refuses the hospitality of the Gtech Stadium boardroom and prefers to join the away fans in one corner of the ground.
“He would have got a good view of Brighton’s best chance of the game as Danny Welbeck went through late on, but also of Kristoffer Ajer’s block that ensured that a frustrating match ended in a stalemate that did not help either team much.
“Brighton were showing most of the urgency as the game entered its final ten minutes. It seemed they must score when Pedro sent substitute Welbeck through, but Ajer, scorer of a late equaliser against Manchester United at the weekend, was the hero again, producing a match-saving block this time.”
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Isabelle Barker of The Sun also led on Albion’s accounts: “All the talk has been about Roberto De Zerbi’s future at the end of the season, but with Tony Bloom at the helm Brighton will be just fine.
“Bloom has found a way to compete with the big six, get into Europe and regular cup semi-finals, all on one of the league's lowest budgets and money from his own pocket.
“For Brighton, this match felt like it could go a long way in deciding European football for another season with them yet to meet Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Newcastle and Manchester United again this term.
“Brighton had a flurry of late chances and Danny Welbeck would have slotted home the opener had it not been for a superb block from Kristoffer Ajer. Brazilian forward Pedro smelled blood and fired just wide before Welbeck charged towards Verbruggen and lashed a menacing shot inches from goal.”
Aadam Patel of the Daily Mail came up with a written version of YouTube’s De Zerbi Cam: “There was a moment midway through the second half when his side cheaply gave the ball away and Roberto De Zerbi sank to the floor of his dugout in frustration.
In a week where Brighton announced record profits and where he has been linked with the Bayern Munich job, this was the kind of evening that summed up the inconsistency of Brighton’s injury-plagued season as they missed a glorious chance to go up to seventh and into the European places.
“Not since September have they won consecutive games in the Premier League and the likelihood is that if they can’t patch a run together there will be no European trips - the kind which have given those fans memories for life - next season.
“Both managers turned to the bench in a bid to make the breakthrough and Danny Welbeck was denied a late winner as Kristoffer Ajer made a superb last-ditch block and celebrated as if he had scored. De Zerbi dropped to the floor again and put his hands over his face.”