Post Match report for the Man City game - Saturday, 11th July 2020
PREMIER LEAGUE restarted: Brighton v Manchester City - 11/7/20, P35.
(Postponed 25/4/20 - Prem suspended. Rescheduled game played behind closed doors).
ALBION GIVEN YET ANOTHER VERY HARSH LESSON BY A TOP SIX OUTFIT
RESULT: 0-5 . (h-t 0-2) . SHAPE: 4-2-2-2
VENUE: the Amex, Falmer - eighteenth home match of thirty-five fixtures to date.
PRE-KICKOFF: merely two contests now left to play at the community stadium and this season would be over well before end of July.
Albion should survive to play in the Prem next term, given ongoing failings by those current bottom three clubs as recently witnessed by socially distant fans watching tv coverage. Being present at elite fixtures once more could be out in the future for many attendees, restricted by lockdown, who love action and atmosphere close up.
WEATHER: clear & mild evening in July.
GRAHAM POTTER is always respectful of opposition and since restart has good reason to be additionally humble and honest to boot.
He has equalled that points tally of predecessor Chris Hughton, although 40 points from our first campaign is yet to be reached.
GP made several alterations to that eleven beaten by the new champions here at the weekend.
Montoya, Bernardo, Bissouma, Mooy and Connolly all stepped up from among previous substitutes.
TEAM . . . . . . . . . . 1 Ryan
. 22 Montoya, 15 Webster, 5 Dunk, 30 Bernardo
. . . . 18 Mooy, 8 Bissouma, 24 Propper
. . . . 13 Gross, 44 Connolly, 11 Trossard
BENCH: 27 Button, 2 Lamptey, 4 Duffy, 10 Mac Allister, 17 Murray.
Stephens (59), Lamptey (59), Maupay (59), Jahabakhsh (70), Burn (78)
GOALS: 21 - hosts appeared like statues as City put a superb passing move together, executed with quality.
44 - conceding a second prior to the interval showed a lack of concentration and determination at a free opportunity.
53 - the third goal looked like some fun on the training ground as City further eased ahead with men versus boys.
56 - the fourth goal was almost embarrassing from defenders point of view, individually and team-wise.
81 - the fifth goal was a comedy of errors with a nutmeg on Ryan and ricochet via defender and upright.
INCIDENTS: travellers were already a goal up and cruising when shooting and the deflection cannoned off the crossbar.
A second half solo effort from a superstar set piece smacks against a BHA post.
YELLOWS: Bissouma.
SUBS: 59 - Stephens, Lamptey & Maupay for Propper, Montoya & Connolly. 70 - Jahanbakhsh for Trossard. 78 - Burn for Gross.
ANALYSIS: opening moments were fairly low key but gradually visitors took control. Once the first goal was conceded hosts would have to come from behind in order to salvage anything from another tutorial given by a quality side.
It was repeating a losing method of play that was becoming a habit. Once chasing the game Albion were psychologically inferior, apart from physically unable to compete on a level playing field.
From beginning of the second period Potter reshaped to more like 4411 in a bid to compress a likely large final score.
Locals heads dropped as collectively the starting eleven had a mare. Potter changed personnel possibly out of pity.
The result may have been anticipated but hosts display came up well short. Whatever current circumstances, they let themselves, fans and the badge down.
NUMBERS: poss 29%-71%, on target 0-8, off target 3-18, corners 2-7, fouls 7-3, yellows 1-0, subs 5-5 (5/9).
CONSEQUENCES: Albion have left it up to laws of probabilities or at least basic arithmetic to decide final order of finishing.
Cynics might say Seagulls merely went through motions. Critics would say they are a regular bottom six club anyway.
FS
MORE READING: via Stats page tabs - Squad, History & Travel, Archive for PL facts & figs plus Clubs records.