Post Match report for the Chelsea game - Saturday, 28th September 2019
PREMIER LEAGUE: Chelsea v Brighton - 28/9/19 P7
ALBION COME AWAY WITH NOTHING FROM METROPOLITAN MAYHEM
VENUE: Stamford Bridge, London SW6 - fourth away match of seven fixtures to date.
RESULT: 2-0 . (h-t 0-0) . SHAPE: 5-4-1 . REF: made a crucial decision in a psychological moment during ninety minutes.
PREAMBLE: last week Brighton fans were right up in the northeast, so a subsequent trip to the capital appeared almost local by comparison. Any visit to a top-six giant could be regarded as a purely supportive experience as usual, although hope always figures, even remotely on such occasions.
GATE: 40,683 . WEATHER: breezy but mild.
GRAHAM POTTER went through the present injury list before picking this match-day eighteen. There was not too much room for manoeuvre but merely made one change from the starting eleven at Newcastle. Bissouma came in for Propper.
Substitutes included Schelotto, back from the dead via warmer climes last term.
TEAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Ryan
. 22 Montoya, 15 Webster, 5 Dunk, 33 Burn, 46 Alzate
. . . . . . . 13 Gross, 6 Stephens, 8 Bissouma, 18 Mooy
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Maupay
BENCH: 27 Button, 3 Bong (46), 28 Baluta, 21 Schelotto, 16 Jahanbakhsh, 17 Murray (79), 44 Connolly (65).
GOALS: 50 - 1-0. A contentious penalty decision sees the spot kick converted but other eyes are on VAR replays.
76 - 2-0. The game is over when a deflected shot finds the net following a routine counter attack.
INCIDENTS: prior to quarter of an hour gone, hosts tidy set piece is glanced onto an upright. With halftime approaching, Ryan twice saves well from dangerous strikes. A second half dig by Burn strikes the bar.
YELLOWS: 28 - Maupay knocks the keeper over. 33 - Alzate with a cynical dive. 49 - Webster clips an opponent in the area.
SUBS: 46 - Bong was introduced for Bissouma after halftime. 65 - Connolly replaces Mooy. 79 - Murray is inserted while Maupay withdrawn.
ANALYSIS: visitors rode their luck throughout the first forty-five minutes and were mostly on the defensive bar a short period during middle of the half. Hosts could not hit a proverbial barn door, although Albion rearguard worked hard enough to effectively restrict the number of on targets from multiple free-flowing forays.
On turnaround Albion reshuffled with Bong now at left back, Alzate in right midfield and Gross more central. But soon travellers were chasing the game, as so often on the road, lacking in fire power and falling further behind on stats overall.
What confidence and self belief Seagulls had while the score remained stalemated evaporated like steam from a switched off kettle. Potter shuffled the available pack, inserting attacking options from the bench. More frustration ensued while the clock ran down.
BHA performances were slowly reducing to a median level and in stark standards required for this division continue to fall short of those desired. Individual skills or errors apart, team play is often over done when finally reaching the final third, where chances become few and far between.
Potter set attacking sights high with a revisionary approach from day one. As October looms, his resolve is being sorely tested not to consider changing that modus operandi.
MoM - Ryan, several super saves kept the score down.
NUMBERS: shape 433-541, poss 53%-47%, on target 10-1, off target 14-7, corners 5-2, fouls 5-13, yellows 2-3, subs 3-3.
FS
