Brighton’s European Hopes Take Hit After Draw with Brentford

Brighton’s winless streak stretched to six Premier League games after Brentford held them to a 0-0 draw, securing just their second away point of the season. The Seagulls almost took the lead early when Joao Pedro set up Julio Enciso but Enciso’s curling shot hit the post. Brentford with the league’s worst away record, thought they had taken the lead in the 14th minute when Yoane Wissa finished a counter-attack but VAR ruled him offside.

Brighton dominated possession but struggled to convert chances with Enciso missing three good opportunities and Matt O’Riley also failing to score. In the second half, Brighton midfielder Solly March, making his return after a 14-month injury layoff, received a warm reception when he came on as a substitute. However, he couldn’t find the winner, firing over the bar in the 94th minute.

A controversial moment occurred when Joao Pedro appeared to elbow Brentford’s Yehor Yarmoliuk, though VAR reviewed the incident and deemed no further action necessary. Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler defended his team, stating they had worked hard and deserved more than the boos the home crowd directed at them. Despite their dominant first-half play, Brighton couldn’t break down a Brentford defense bolstered by 23-year-old goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson, who made his Premier League debut after Mark Flekken’s injury.

Brighton’s European ambitions took a hit as they stayed in 10th, failing to win in six matches. A win would have moved them to seventh, but instead, they found themselves five points adrift of European qualification. Meanwhile, Brentford moved up to 11th with their hard-fought point.