March returns as Brighton and Brentford play out goalless draw

Brighton and Brentford performed out a goalless draw on the Amex Stadium on Friday night time.

The hosts began the sport brightly and on the entrance foot, with Julio Enciso putting the put up with a high-quality strike after simply 5 minutes.

Brentford burst ahead on a uncommon assault with quarter-hour on the clock and had the ball at the back of the online via Yoane Wissa however the purpose was chalked off for offside following a short VAR test.

Brighton continued to push ahead looking for a purpose within the first half, registering 15 pictures within the opening 45 minutes, forcing Mark Flekken into making six saves earlier than he was substituted off with an damage.

The guests began the second half in a a lot better trend than the primary, getting on the ball extra and making use of strain on the Brighton defence however with out actually testing Bart Verbruggen.

Each side pushed ahead in a match that turned more and more open and frantic however with out creating many clear-cut alternatives. Each groups had loads of counter-attacks however have been typically responsible of overplaying or making the unsuitable choice on the ultimate second.

Solly March returned to Premier League motion after 433 days on the sideline after struggling a knee damage in October 2023, coming into the fray for the ultimate minutes to rapturous applause from the Brighton trustworthy.

The sport ended goalless, with only one place within the Premier League desk and two factors separating Brighton in tenth on 26 factors and Brentford in eleventh on 24.

It wasn’t for the shortage of effort from Fabian Hurzeler’s aspect, however Brighton’s winless run prolonged to 6 matches tonight, with Albion selecting up their fourth draw throughout this run and their eighth draw general this season – the joint-most of any group within the competitors.

Their lack of leading edge within the ultimate third has value them throughout this run and tonight it was extra of the identical. They managed 24 pictures (seven on track) and will have registered much more however for overplaying on a number of situations. This winless run has now seen Brighton drop factors to the likes of Southampton (1-1), Leicester Metropolis (2-2), West Ham (1-1) and now Brentford (0-0), all sides who at present reside within the backside half of the desk.

It doesn’t get any simpler for Hurzeler’s aspect both, with a visit to Aston Villa up subsequent earlier than they welcome Arsenal to the Amex.

It needs to be a particular efficiency to win Participant of the Match regardless of taking part in simply 36 minutes however that is precisely what it was from Brentford’s Mark Flekken!

The Bees keeper made six saves within the first half, with 4 of these saves coming from pictures taken contained in the field. His fast reflexes allowed him to tug off an excellent save after the ball shortly modified course following an ungainly deflection.

He shall be disenchanted to have left the sector injured however he greater than performed his half in Brentford conserving a clear sheet.

Brighton: Verbruggen 7, Veltman 7, Van Hecke 7, Dunk 7, Estupinan 7, O’Riley 7, Baleba 7, Gruda 8, Enciso 7, Mitoma 7, Pedro 7

Subs: Adingra 6, Ayari 6, Minteh 6, Rutter 6, March 6

Brentford: Flekken 8, Lewis-Potter 6, Mee 6, Collins 7, Roerslev 7, Norgaard 6, Janelt 7, Schade 6, Damsgaard 7, Mbeumo 6, Wissa 6

Subs: Valdimarsson 7, Yarmoliuk 7, Ji-Soo 6

9′ ENCISO OFF THE POST – Julio Enciso has struck the put up with a high-quality effort. The goalkeeper had no probability there.

14′ GOAL! BRIGHTON 0-1 BRENTFORD (WISSA) Brentford have broke shortly and made it 1-0 via Wissa, however will it depend?! The flag hasn’t gone up however that is very, very tight. Wissa took a improbable first contact earlier than lashing house previous Verbruggen.

14’ NO GOAL! OFFSIDE! – As suspected, Yoane Wissa was offside when receiving the ball and this purpose won’t depend. It stays 0-0 on the Amex.

24’ SO CLOSE TO 1-0! – Matt O’Riley does brilliantly to burst ahead within the field earlier than firing an effort on purpose which Flekken will get down shortly to save lots of.

• Brentford’s Mark Flekken made six saves earlier than having to be substituted within the thirty sixth minute with an damage. Of goalkeepers to play 45 minutes or fewer, that is essentially the most saves made on file (since 2003-04) in a Premier League match.