Premier League: Brighton and Forest maintain unbeaten starts

Brighton & Hove Albion 2 - 2 Nottingham Forest

Both Brighton and Nottingham Forest maintained their unbeaten Premier League runs in an almost chaotic match which saw one player and both managers sent off. 

The match at Amex Stadium ended with four goals, but in controversial fashion as Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White received a second yellow card for a sliding challenge on Brighton's Joao Pedro. 

Referee Rob Jones then showed red cards to Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler and Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo for their reactions to the incident.

Premier League: 2024/2025 season (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com)

A closer look at what happened

The visitors took the lead when former Brighton striker Chris Wood scored against his old club with a well-taken penalty kick after Carlos Baleba tripped Callum Hudson-Odoi in the penalty area.

However, two goals in a three-minute span just before half-time seemed to change the course of the match.

Nineteen-year-old midfielder Jack Hinshelwood scored his fourth goal for Brighton with an excellent, powerful header from Jan Paul van Hecke’s deep cross, making it 1-1.

The Seagulls then took the lead in style when Danny Welbeck scored a superb 25-yard free-kick that curled around the wall, leaving away goalkeeper Matz Sels with no chance.

Welbeck almost added a third for the hosts with a fine dribbling run in which he beat three Forest players, only to shoot just wide.

However, Forest equalized in the 70th minute after breaching Brighton’s offside trap. Gibbs-White timed his run perfectly to be through on the home goal and unselfishly squared the ball to substitute Ramon Sosa to score his first goal in English football.

Either side would have moved up to fourth place with a win, but instead Brighton remain seventh, while Forest climb a place to eighth.

What level can these sides reach this season?

Both teams have enjoyed fine starts to the campaign and have now won two and drawn three of their five Premier League matches, while Brighton have also reached the last 16 of the Carabao Cup.

The hosts made a bright start as Simon Adingra caused problems, but his low, powerful cross from inside the penalty area could not find a team-mate.

Forest came into this match after an excellent 1-0 win at Liverpool and Nuno's side maintained their record of scoring first in each of their league matches this season.

Wood, who had a loan spell at Brighton in 2010-11, calmly sent home goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Brighton gave Forest a warning when Georginio Rutter spun and shot wide from 20 yards, before Hinshelwood equalised with the Seagulls’ first effort on target.

That was quickly followed by Welbeck’s superb free-kick for his third goal of the season. However, Forest equalised midway through the second half and, following the three red cards, had a late chance to snatch the three points.

Sosa was clean through on goal in injury time, but instead of shooting he overhit a pass to Hudson-Odoi and the chance was wasted - though his blushes were somewhat spared when the flag was raised for offside.

Nevertheless, a point apiece was a fair conclusion to what was a hugely entertaining match.