The unbeaten Premier League seasons of Brighton and Nottingham Forest continue after an engrossing 2-2 affair at the Amex Stadium saw the visitors finish with 10 men on Sunday.
Forest took an early lead through a Chris Wood penalty but needed to rally for a Ramon Sosa equalizer after Jack Hinshelwood and Danny Welbeck pushed the hosts in front before halftime.
A hard-edged affair saw Morgan Gibbs-White sent off on a second yellow for a scissor tackle on Joao Pedro that led to red cards for both Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo and Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler.
Both teams move to nine points with matching 2W-3D records, the Seagulls a spot ahead in seventh place due to better goal differential.
Fitting 2-2 split serves as Sunday precursor to City-Arsenal
Few had Brighton and Nottingham Forest both sitting pretty and unbeaten after four weeks — let alone five — but hopefully those still waiting to crown the Seagulls and Tricky Trees as legitimate sides will have been pushed by Sunday’s early match. And it’s fitting that those at Fan Fest in Chicago would’ve gotten this match as an appetizer for Manchester City vs Arsenal because Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton played the role of possession-based, fluid machine while Nuno Espirito Santo’s Forest were the angry team prepared to fire forward but only when the priority of holding firm had been met. It was a big game with big goals and big fouls, and there’s reason to believe that both clubs will fight to live as high in the top half as possible this season.
Brighton vs Nottingham Forest player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Brighton vs Nottingham Forest player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Brighton vs Nottingham Forest player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Brighton go to Chelsea at 10am ET Saturday, while Forest host Fulham at the same time.
How to watch Brighton vs Nottingham Forest live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 9am ET Sunday (september 22)
Venue: The Amex Stadium
TV Channel: USA Network
Streaming: Watch live online via NBC.com
Brighton vs Nottingham Forest live updates — By Nick Mendola
Brighton vs Nottingham Forest final score: 2-2
Chris Wood pen 13', Jack Hinshelwood 42', Danny Welbeck 46', Ramon Sosa 70'
Red card: Morgan Gibbs-White 83'
Red cards! Morgan Gibbs-White, Nuno Espirito Santo, Fabian Hurzeler
Gibbs-White is on a yellow as he slides to take down Joao Pedro. The Forest star catches the ball but also Pedro with a scissor tackle.
It’s an easy yellow and in this writer’s mind it could’ve been a straight red.
Fabian Hurzeler loses his mind on the touch line before the card is shown, and then Nuno Espirito Santo after it. Both managers have joined Gibbs-White in being sent off!
Ramon Sosa strikes! Brighton 2-2 Nottingham Forest (70th minute)
This is very good from Jota Silva, who is sent into the box by Morgan Gibbs-White — who else — and finds a wide-open Ramon Sosa.
It’s a straight-forward but side-footed finish, and Forest are level.
The Danny Welbeck Renaissance is something else
Mitoma finds Welbeck just inside the 18, and the ex-Arsenal man dances around several defenders and you expect the net to bulge any moment.
But Sels makes a great close-range reaction save to limit the damage to a corner.
Halftime — Brighton 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Well that was a turnaround.
Brighton’s 65% possession has led to six shots, two of which were on target and both were goals.
Forest had been more dangerous and lead the xG fight by almost a half-goal, but a brilliant header and matching free kick have the hosts in front and suddenly this feels like it’s only going one way.
The Premier League, y’all.
Danny Welbeck free kick goal! Brighton 2-1 Nottingham Forest (45+1')
Make it two, as Brighton have completed the comeback.
Danny Welbeck sweeps a free kick around the Forest wall and Sels stays rooted as the ball spins inside the far post.
Jack Hinshelwood goal! Brighton 1-1 Nottingham Forest (42nd minute)
This is a clinical header and a fourth career Premier League goal for 19-year-old Jack Hinshelwood.
Joel Veltman drops the ball back to Jan Paul van Hecke, whose cross takes a slight turn as it makes its way into a sea of bodies.
Hinshelwood rises high, cranes his neck, and turns a great header past Mats Sels. 1-1.
Nuno’s counter clinic
Brighton aren’t sure what’s going on.
They have 66% of the ball but haven’t really been able to do anything with it.
Forest have the lead and look very comfortable in their press and then structure outside of it.
Penalty to Forest! Brighton 0-1 Nottingham Forest (13th minute)
Morgan Gibbs-White fires into the box and his cutback bounds onto the path of Callum Hudson-Odoi.
The English winger steps in front of Carlos Baleba, and the contact fells Hudson-Odoi.
Chris Wood goes to the spot and sends Verbruggen the wrong way.
Seagulls look bright as Adingra sends invitation
Simon Adingra is released into the 18 and slides a pretty ball through the six that is absent receiver,
Kaoru Mitoma was just a second late to read it, but Brighton will feel more chances are coming.
Scoreless, 10'.
Brighton lineup
Verbruggen, Estupinan, Dunk, Van Hecke, Veltman, Hinshelwood, Baleba, Mitoma, Adingra, Rutter, Welbeck
Nottingham Forest news
Sels, Moreno, Milenkovic, Murillo, Aina, Ward-Prowse, Anderson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Elanga, Wood
Brighton & Hove Albion focus, team news
Danny Welbeck will again be in focus if Joao Pedro’s unable to go, as Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler has noted Evan Ferguson isn’t showing “100 percent” in every training session yet despite a start at midweek in the League Cup.
OUT: Solly March (knee), James Milner (thigh), Matthew O’Riley (ankle), Brajan Gruda (other) | QUESTIONABLE: Joao Pedro (fitness)
Nottingham Forest focus, team news
Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Anthony Elanga have been threatening in attack, all three in the Premier League’s top 25 for created chances this early season. Gibbs-White leads the way, and he’s why target men like Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi could have big seasons.
OUT: Danilo (ankle) | QUESTIONABLE: Ibrahim Sangare (undisclosed), Willy Boly (lower leg)
Brighton vs Nottingham Forest prediction
Brighton are favorites to win at home in about the same way Man City are versus Arsenal, so this could be a tight one. It’s about finishing, as both teams are going to deliver chances to their forwards. This could go either way. Both teams have two draws this season. Let’s make it three. Brighton 1-1 Nottingham Forest.
