Brighton vs Brentford Report

Scorers: N/A

Brentford secured just their second away point of the Premier League season in a goalless draw against Brighton & Hove Albion, as the Seagulls’ winless run stretched to six matches. Despite a handful of opportunities at both ends, neither side could find the decisive breakthrough.

First Half: Chances Go Begging

Brighton started brightly and should have taken the lead within four minutes when Julio Enciso struck the post after Mark Flekken’s misplaced pass gifted the hosts possession. The Bees’ goalkeeper quickly redeemed himself with a string of saves, including a sharp stop to deny Carlos Baleba’s powerful low drive.

Brentford thought they had opened the scoring through Yoane Wissa’s emphatic finish, only for VAR to intervene and rule the goal out for a marginal offside. Brighton responded with more attacking intent, with Brajan Gruda and Matt O’Riley testing Flekken, who was in inspired form but eventually limped off injured, adding to Thomas Frank’s growing list of unavailable players.

Kaoru Mitoma came close late in the half, hitting the side netting as Brighton pushed for an opener, but the teams headed into the break goalless.

Second Half: Tight, Tense, and Goalless

After the interval, Mitoma continued to threaten, seeing two efforts cleared as Brighton pressed forward. However, Brentford began to find their rhythm and created several opportunities of their own. Wissa’s powerful strike was blocked, and Christian Nørgaard’s acrobatic scissor kick narrowly deflected wide.

Brentford, who had lost seven of their eight away league games this season, showed resilience as the game wore on. Substitute Mikkel Damsgaard tested Bart Verbruggen late on, forcing a smart save from the Brighton goalkeeper. Meanwhile, Solly March made his long-awaited return for Brighton after 14 months out, much to the delight of the remaining home fans.

Key Performers

• Mark Flekken (Brentford): Made several vital saves to keep the visitors in the game before being forced off with an injury.
• Yoane Wissa (Brentford): A lively presence up front, unlucky to have his goal ruled out.
• Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton): Brighton’s most dangerous player, but lacked the clinical edge needed to convert chances.

What This Means

• Brighton & Hove Albion: Fabian Hürzeler’s side remain winless in six and sit midtable, with their lack of cutting edge in attack becoming a growing concern.
• Brentford: The point lifts Brentford slightly further away from the relegation zone, but their poor away form remains a significant obstacle to long-term stability.

Next Fixtures

• Brighton & Hove Albion: Travel to Newcastle United as they aim to end their winless streak.
• Brentford: Host Wolves at the Gtech Community Stadium in a crucial fixture for both sides.

Both managers will reflect on missed opportunities, but Brentford will likely be the happier of the two teams after grinding out a rare away point against a faltering Brighton side.

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Brighton v Brentford, 2024/25 | Premier League