Can March Drive Brighton to Europe?

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Up until late November, Brighton were holding their own in the Premier League’s top four and appeared on course for Champions League qualification. Statement wins against Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspur, and Manchester City were even enough for some pundits to suggest that Brighton were in an early title race. 

High Flying Seagulls Crash Down to Earth 

However, a torrid December, in which the Seagulls went winless in eight games—drawing six—has seen Fabian Hurzeler’s side lose ground in the race for the top four. So much so, the South Coast club are now priced at 28/1 in the latest football betting odds for a top-four finish.

While a top-six finish at 11/2 in the most recent Premier League betting market suggests that European qualification remains a possibility, the truth is that Brighton’s odds on a return to the continent next season are lengthening every week. 

Turning the tide and regaining momentum in a league as unforgiving and competitive as the Premier League is notoriously difficult, but Brighton’s 4-0 demolition of Norwich in the third round of the FA Cup might prove to be a significant moment in the race for European qualification. 

Lift Off at Carrow Road

It’s likely that Hurzeler saw the fixture at Carrow Road as a chance to regain the initiative as the German only made one change from the side that drew 1-1 with Arsenal the previous week.

Crucially, the club that wins the FA Cup will automatically qualify for the Europa League and by naming such a strong starting XI against Championship opposition, the Brighton boss made it clear that he will throw the kitchen sink as the world’s oldest cup competition this season. 

However formidable, it wasn’t the starting XI that grabbed the headlines; instead, it was the inclusion of Solly March on the bench that caused the most excitement. The 30-year-old had suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament against Manchester City in late 2023 and his involvement in the matchday squad was just the second time in 14 months.


As fate would have it, March’s late cameo against the Canaries couldn’t have gone any better as he netted Brighton’s fourth goal on 74 minutes with a smart left-footed finish into the corner of the net.
Such composure in front of goal following a gravely serious knee injury will have provided everyone connected to Brighton with a sense of immense relief. Indeed, Brighton’s talismanic forward still has the Midas touch in goal – something the club relied upon heavily as they qualified for Europe after finishing sixth at the end of the 2022/2023 season.
During that historic season, March’s contribution was seismic as he provided seven goals and as many assists in 33 league appearances.


It was the most productive campaign of March’s career and while much of that upturn in performance was down to the strong relationship he had with ex-Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi, his early return to form in front of goal suggests that Hurzeler’s influence might be just as crucial in unlocking March’s full potential once again.
Seagulls Can Soar Once More
Yes, with the forward now fit again and seemingly picking up where he left off in late 2023, Brighton might be able to find the goals that deliver European qualification. Whether by going all the way in the FA Cup or through a much-improved showing in the second half of the Premier League season, the Seagulls look ready to soar once more.

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