Brighton made it two wins in a row with a comfortable 2–0 victory over ten-man Brentford at the Amex on Sunday afternoon.
Albion went ahead after 15 minutes, and Brentford’s task became far harder eight minutes later when they were reduced to ten men by a straight red card. Brighton doubled their lead three minutes before half-time, and the second half became a matter of control rather than contest.
Total Control
The numbers tell the story. Brighton had 76% of the ball, and took 23 shots to Brentford’s five. They hit the target seven times, while Brentford managed just one shot on target all afternoon, leaving Bart Verbruggen with a quiet day in the Brighton goal.
Brentford spent most of the match defending deep. They took 14 goal kicks, compared with Brighton’s two, a sign of how often Albion were pressing them back. Brighton also won seven corners to Brentford’s three.
Discipline and Changes
It was not entirely clean. Brighton collected four yellow cards, two in the first half and two after the break, which the coaching staff will want to tidy up before tougher tests.
Brentford reshaped at half-time with a double change and made two more on the hour, but the extra man always gave Brighton room to keep the ball. Albion used all five substitutions, bringing on fresh legs late on to see the game out.
A Strong Run
The win continues a strong spell. It follows last weekend’s 1–0 victory away at Manchester City and a 5–0 home win over Crystal Palace in October, with only a 2–0 defeat at Liverpool in between. As our look at how Tony Bloom built Brighton on data explains, this is a club built to keep producing results.
Brighton head to Hull City on Sunday 22 November, after the international break, before Newcastle United visit the Amex on Sunday 29 November.
Brighton Local
Sunday’s game fell on Remembrance Sunday, part of a busy weekend in the city covered in our weekend guide. With Albion in this kind of form, the Newcastle game at the Amex later this month is one to book early. If you missed our Liverpool v Brighton preview, it’s worth a read for where the season was heading.
Related Reading
- How Brighton Built a Premier League Machine on Data
- Fireworks, the Albion and a Night at the Dome
- Man United’s £65m Carlos Baleba Bid
