Nottingham Forest 7 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Albion were shaken to the rafters at the City Ground as they suffered their biggest ever top-flight defeat this afternoon (Saturday 1 February).
The Seagulls haven’t conceded seven goals since August 2009 but perhaps the writing was on the wall when Lewis Dunk scored a 12th minute own goal.
Up to that point, the possession had been quite even, with Georginio Rutter and Jack Hinshelwood both having good chances.
Yankubu Minteh managed to get in a good block to foil Chris Wood but from the resulting corner Morgan Gibbs-White bulleted a header past Bart Verbruggen for 2-0.
It was an easy effort but just six minutes later, with Mitoma off the pitch replacing a contact lens, Anthony Elanga crossed for Wood who headed past Verbruggen and survived a VAR check.
Before half-time Danny Welbeck saw an effort hit the bar and bounce agonisingly on the line but referee Simon Hooper’s watch did not buzz and the goal-line system showed a few millimetres of the ball did not cross the line.
Albion took the game to Forest early in the second half but did not really trouble Matz Sels in the Forest goal.
On 64 minutes Elanga completely outpaced Dunk – and Wood slid in to meet his cross for 4-0.
Four minutes later Tariq Lamptey upended Gibbs-White in the box and Wood sent Verbruggen the wrong way from the resulting penalty for FIVE!
Albion had half chances through substitute Matt O’Riley and Georginio – but as they failed to clear their lines Neco Williams planted an effort high into Verbruggen’s goal.
The punishment culminated with Verbruggen literally passing to Forest substitute Jota Silva who consigned Albion to their biggest defeat since Huddersfield Town almost 16 years ago.
It was Brighton’s heaviest league defeat since a 9-0 thrashing at Middlesbrough in the old Division Two on the opening day of the 1958-59 season.
Head coach Fabian Hürzeler apologised to the fans and insisted everyone has to take the blame.
He said: “It’s not an easy one to take but it’s football and is part of the business to deal with these days and keep staying positive, and finding solutions and take responsibility for that result and performance.
“We have to look in the mirror and say this is not how we want to play football. We have to apologise for this result.
“When you lose 7-0 there won’t be many positives. I’m new in the Premier League, I’m sure we will find solutions, getting bad losses is part of the process. Being successful is not a comfortable journey.”
