Brighton 2-1 Manchester City: View from the pressbox

SussexWorld

Sussex World football writers Derren Howard and Sam Morton review the action after Brighton and Hove Albion secure a stunning comeback victory over Manchester City

Transcript

00:00Okay, we're just exiting the Amex Stadium after a pulsating 2-1 victory for Brighton

00:08against Premier League champions Manchester City. What a second half Sam, just talk us

00:14through that. Obviously Erling Haaland gave Man City the lead and then the second half

00:19Brighton completely turned it around.

00:20Yeah, it was a stunning comeback for Brighton. Obviously it started quite badly, City were

00:27completely dominant in that first half, or for large parts of it at least, and they

00:31deservedly went a goal ahead through Erling Haaland. It was a bit of a mistake from Yassine

00:36Ayari to give the ball to Kovacic, who played the ball through to Haaland, who had the first

00:40effort saved and managed to get up to the rebound and force it in via the crossbar.

00:46You felt like City would go on, maybe add to their lead. But Brighton did respond well

00:51and they started to grow into the game towards the end of that first half. Herstler made

00:56that change at half-time, taking Ayari off, he'd been booked, so potentially a reason

01:01for that. And then bringing on Carlos Baleba, who was exceptional in that second half, completely

01:06changed the course of the game. The way he controls the ball, brings it out from the

01:11defence, gives other players around him so much more time. He really did change the whole

01:16complexion of the game really. It felt like a matter of time before Brighton would score

01:21and they eventually did. It was through Matomas' second attempt at cross, landed Danny Wilbert,

01:28couldn't quite get that shot off. And then João Pedro, returning from injury, picked

01:32up the pieces to fire past Ederson. The crowd by this point was absolutely raucous.

01:37It was a great atmosphere.

01:38A great atmosphere. You felt like there was only one winner from that point. It was literally

01:41going to take another five minutes for Mata Rielly to come back after nearly three months

01:46out, after that quality town game in August, after his ankle surgery. It doesn't really

01:53get much better than that. First Premier League appearance, coming back from injury, you score

01:57a late winner against Man City. Superb comeback, one of the finest nights at the Amex.

02:03Yes, I'd have to agree with that. The second half in particular, I thought the atmosphere

02:07was fantastic. It was a tilly, dark November evening, wasn't it? It was electric in there,

02:15in the second half. As you say, Bolivar changed the game, Pedro coming back. The substitutes

02:20just really made a difference. Even Pep Guardiola, in a press conference afterwards, he admitted

02:28they just couldn't cope with their substitutions.

02:30Yes, and obviously City are going through a bit of a torrid time at the moment. Obviously,

02:33that's four defeats in a row now. Pep Guardiola, for the first time in his managerial career,

02:38he's lost four on the bounce. So it's a real rough time for them, got a number of injuries.

02:43Inside Brighton, I think we pointed out before the game, there wasn't a recognised defender

02:47on the Brighton bench. Obviously, we've had problems in the last few weeks with Van Hecker

02:52being out, but I thought he was exceptional again tonight.

02:55Him and Igor, both the pair of them.

02:59They kept Haaland, apart from the goal, really quiet, especially in that second half. Superb

03:04result and a really great performance.

03:06Igor's had his critics, but I thought he was great today. The wind moves Brighton up to

03:10fourth. Now they've got the international break and then at Bournemouth after the break.

03:14So it's looking quite rosy for Brighton.

03:16Certainly is. Hopefully, they can pick up some points. Obviously, they're famously renowned

03:21for dropping points in games they're not expected to win. So hopefully, they can get better at

03:24that. And you never know, they could really push up the table. So I think it's been a

03:28really great start to the season.

03:30Great, great. Well, keep up to date with everything on our website, sussexworld.co.uk, where we've

03:34got all the reaction from here and we'll be looking at what's going to be happening at

03:38Brighton during the international break as well. But thanks very much. Cheers, Sam.

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