No Brighton fan needs reminding of what happened against both Wolves and Leicester this season. Leading 2-0 with five minutes plus injury time to play, the Albion contrived to ship two late goals against relegation threatened opponents to draw 2-2.
Four very precious points dropped. Questions about game management and substitutions hanging over Fabian Hurzeler. His players equally culpable for clear and obvious bad decision making along with accusations of a poor mentality.
Whilst those collapses have dominated conversations about Brighton since the capitulation at the King Power, the issue of Brighton conceding goals in quick successions goes far beyond squandering leads against Foxes and Wolves (nice pub on the A40).
It seems to have gone under the radar quite how frequently it has happened in the Hurzeler Era so far. The Albion have played 15 games under The Youngest Permanent Manager in Premier League History.
They have conceded twice in the space of eight minutes in five of them. Chelsea (A). Wolves (H). Liverpool (A). Fulham (A). Leicester (H).
Extend that timeframe to 14 minutes and you can include Spurs (H).
This record could and probably should be even worse. Brighton were fortunate to see Manchester United have a goal chalked off for offside when the ball struck Joshua Zirkzee on its way in 12 minutes after Amad Diallo levelled at the Amex.
Plucky Little Bournemouth were a lick of paint away from levelling in the 96th minute of the Albion’s 2-1 win at the Vitality Stadium having entered injury time trailing 2-0.
David Brooks pulled one back on 90 for the Cherries. If Antoine Semenyo’s volley six minutes had been a millimetre lower, we would be sat here talking about a third 2-0 lead given up by Brighton right at the death.
Bottom of the table Southampton arrived in Sussex without a point on their travels all season and having lost nine consecutive top flight away matches.
Kaoru Mitoma sent the Albion into half time with a 1-0 lead. But Flynn Downes levelled on 59 and another tight, controversial VAR call went in Brighton’s favour eight minutes later when Cameron Archer had a goal ruled out.
In an alternative universe somewhere, lady luck deserts Brighton. Those goals for United and Southampton stand. Semenyo scores for Bournemouth rather than clipping the bar.
The Albion have then conceded two goals in quick succession in eight of 15 Premier League matches. There is clearly a problem here; in our universe, let alone the alternative one.
Analysing the Saints draw for BBC Sport, Emma Smith wrote: “Fabian Hurzeler’s side could have equalled their club record of three consecutive Premier League victories had they beaten Southampton here.”
“And they appeared well on course for that after a first half in which they dominated proceedings and should have scored more than once.”
“But they went off the boil in the second half, were clearly shaken by Southampton’s equaliser, and ultimately only a debatable VAR decision saw them claim a point.”
Clearly shaken is one way of putting it. Collective meltdown would be another. What is it causing Brighton to concede once, panic stations set in and then rapidly ship a second? Or in the case of facing Chelsea (or to be more precise, Cole Palmer) a third and fourth?
You could initially make a case for it being the absence of Lewis Dunk. Wolves, Liverpool, Bournemouth and the near-miss against Southampton all happened with Dunk off the pitch.
But the return of the Albion captain from a calf injury has done nothing to alleviate the problem. Both Fulham and Leicester have scored twice in quick succession with Dunk at the heart of the Brighton defence.
The issue must therefore extend beyond Dunk’s absence. Is it a lack of experience elsewhere on the pitch? Are Brighton missing the cool, calm, collective heads of Pascal Gross and Billy Gilmour in the middle of the park?
Would the problem be occurring with such frequency if the elder statesman James Milner were fit and available? Milner has not played since August after suffering a ‘minor’ injury away at Arsenal. There is currently no date set for his return either, just the 15 weeks down the line.
Conceding one goal, turning into rabbits in the headlights and then letting in a second within 10 minutes is a problem rarely ever saw with Roberto De Zerbi or Glow Up Graham Potter at the helm.
That means it is unique to Hurzeler and this squad. And unless Hurzeler can address it ASAP, the Albion can forget about a return to European football. It is unsustainable to concede two goals per game and expect to win football matches.
This weekend would be a good time for Brighton to iron out this kink. Crystal Palace visit and given the importance of the game (or at least, the importance to supporters) the sense of panic after conceding could well end up magnified.
If Palace score – especially with the Albion leading at the time – nervousness and tension is sure to descend other vast swathes of the North, West and East Stands.
Hurzeler and the players cannot allow panic to set in on the pitch as well. If you thought the online meltdown following Leicester was spectacular, imagine what it will be like if Brighton chuck away points against the Eagles…
