Match Review – Brighton 2-2 Stoke City
Brighton v Stoke looked like one of those games that Sky just shove on a Monday night so they can tick another box for how many times they’ve shown each team in a season. As it was, those who bothered to tune in were treated to a wildly entertaining 2-2 draw.
Really, it should’ve been an Albion win. Referee Lee Mason and his assistants missed one of the most blatant penalties you will ever see in the first half after a Ryan Shawcross tackle on Glenn Murray. We could see it from way up in the West Upper after drinking half a litre of brandy at Plumpton Races in the afternoon, so how a set of professional match officials have failed to award it from mere yards away beggars belief.
Even Shawcross himself came out after and said it should have been a penalty, refreshing honesty you don’t see much these days. The normally calm and collected Chris Hughton was also pretty livid with the decision, and we wouldn’t be ones to start spreading rumours but it does make you wonder if the officials had any free bet offers on the game to miss such a blatant call?
Even without the penalty, it still could have been a Brighton win. For the first time this season our defending let us down and Stoke had two easily preventable goals. On the day when rumours began circling that Lewis Dunk to Arsenal for £35m – yes, THIRTY FIVE MILLION for a bloke who has played 11 top flight games in his entire career – is a done deal, Arsene Wenger might have been frantically searching down the back of his sofa for the receipt.
Dunk was caught out of position for the Potters opener, set up by a quite stunning ball by Xherdan Shaqiri. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting gave that pass the first touch it deserved before poking home past Maty Ryan but questions have to be asked about the sloppiness at the back. Stoke’s second arrived in first half injury time and again there was a culpable defender, this time Bruno who turned his back on a corner in allowing Kurt Zouma to head home.
Two of the last three home games have seen Bruno responsible for us conceding now after his elbow to give away that last minute penalty against Everton, which some would say have cost us four points. Perhaps now is the time to see what Jesus Christ look-a-like Ezequiel Schelotto can bring to the party?
The Albion’s first goal was set up brilliantly by Davy Propper who’s run across the pitch and cross was finished by Pascal Gross, taking the German onto three goals and five assists. Jose Izquierdo got the other, finishing at the second attempt after Lee Camp had saved his first effort.
Ryan had to make a couple of decent stops late on to help secure the point but defeat would have been harsh on the Albion and indeed, Stoke probably couldn’t complain too much about leaving with nothing.
The result leaves Brighton in ninth spot in the table and unbeaten in five ahead of a ridiculously tough run of games. The next month will see matches at Manchester United, Spurs and Chelsea and at home to Liverpool. Once those are out of the way, we will have a much clearer idea of where we stand in the grand scheme of the Premier League.
Hughton will know his side need to be at their best to get anything from those, so stick on the tin hats as it could be a rough run up to Christmas. Not having any piss poor penalty decisions would help, obviously. Yeah, we are looking at you Lee Mason.
