Brighton analysis: Two moments of quality extend unbeaten runpublished at 19:14 GMT 22 November
19:14 GMT 22 November
Image source, Getty Images
Fabian Hurzeler - watching from the stands after picking up his third booking of the season - made history, becoming the youngest manager to reach 50 Premier League games (32 years and 269 days).
His side certainly did not produce a first-half performance to match that feat - a couple of comfortable saves for Caoimhin Kelleher were the closest they came.
Baleba attracted plenty of transfer interest in the summer after a superb 2024-25 campaign, but the avoidable penalty he conceded summed up his struggles this term. He was hooked at half-time.
Brighton did not look much better in the second half, until a moment of true quality from Minteh picked out the run of Welbeck who did what he does best.
A small section of the home support booed when Diego Gomez was replaced by Jack Hinshelwood with 20 minutes left, but Hurzeler's decision was justified when the 20-year-old found the bottom corner with a sweet strike from the edge of the penalty area.
Fellow substitute Maxim de Cuyper nearly threw the points away by bringing down Kevin Schade in the box, but goalkeeper Verbruggen made himself the hero by reading Igor Thiago's stuttering run-up and landing on the tamely hit penalty.
It has been a mixed season so far for Brighton, but the fight and spirit they showed extended their unbeaten home Premier League run to 10 games.
They have come back to win each of their past three league home games when trailing at half-time, the others being against Liverpool and Manchester City.
Brighton 2-1 Brentford: What Hurzeler and Hinshelwood said published at 18:01 GMT 22 November
18:01 GMT 22 November
Media caption,
'Welbeck is like a good red wine, the older he gets the better he gets' - Hurzeler
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "I think we were the much better team through the whole game. We didn't create that many chances, but in the end, we have the right momentum in the game. We reacted well in the second half, and we always have to believe that we can score goals and turn a game around, and that's what we showed.
On Danny Welbeck: "We speak a lot about him during the season. He is like a good red wine, the older he gets, the better he gets, and we are very pleased to have him in our squad as a leader, as a player, as a personality."
On Carlos Baleba not hitting the heights of last season: "Not so far. We need to help him; that is our responsibility. We all agree he is still a young player. We all have to give young players the chance to have a bad phase; that is normal. Stay calm, keep working hard and have a good environment around him. That's what he has here, and we keep pushing him."
On Bart Verbruggen's penalty save: "Timing you can't learn, and I'm really happy that Bart was there and he saved that penalty. He plays a good season so far, and I think this gives him another confidence boost."
Midfielder Jack Hinshelwood to BBC Match of the Day: "I'm delighted to be back with the boys and to pop up with the goal. We ended up winning the game. I probably wouldn't be doing this interview if Bart [Verbruggen] didn't make that save, so I am delighted for him. Massively important that we got the three points today.
On Bart Verbruggen's penalty save: "I'm delighted for him. He went the wrong way for the first one, but to then go again and go the right way to make the save. Delighted for the team that we got the three points today."
"When we play Brentford, we know it is going to be a tough game. It is never straightforward playing them.
On Danny Welbeck: "You could talk about Welbz for a long time. He is unbelievable, a great character in the dressing room. Everyone loves him, and what he is doing week in, week out is unbelievable, and he is always there for us."
On representing Brighton: "It's special every time I pull on the shirt. I go out there and I just give my all. Sometimes I'm going to make mistakes, but I just love playing for this club and every time I step on the pitch I give 110%."
Did you know?
Brighton have come back to win each of the last three Premier League home games when they've trailed at half time (v Liverpool, Manchester City and Brentford); the first side to do so in three in a row since Manchester City between May 2022 and January 2023 (3).
This was Fabian Hurzeler's 50th Premier League match in charge of Brighton and Hove Albion – at the age of 32 years and 269 days, he's the youngest manager to reach 50 games in the competition's history, breaking Chris Coleman's record (34 years, 107 days).
Brighton v Brentford: Team newspublished at 14:05 GMT 22 November
14:05 GMT 22 November
Fabia Hurzeler makes one change to the Brighton side that drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace before the international break, with Olivier Boscagli preferred in central defence to Lewis Dunk.
Kaoru Mitoma remains out with an ankle issue, while top scorer Danny Welbeck leads the line.
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Liverpool v Nottingham Forest" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Newcastle v Man City", for instance.
Sutton's predictions: Brighton v Brentfordpublished at 11:10 GMT 22 November
11:10 GMT 22 November
Brentford were seen as one of the favourites for relegation before the season started, but they have surprised a few people under Keith Andrews and are in good form with three wins in their past four games.
My son told me to get Bees striker Igor Thiago in my fantasy football team a few weeks back and, guess what, I didn't listen.
Thiago will probably score again on Saturday but I am still not going to pick him or back Brentford at Amex Stadium.
They have not had much success on the road this season, and Brighton are always decent at home. Brentford will try to hit them on the counter-attack but I think Fabian Hurzeler's side carry much more of a threat.
Brighton v Brentford: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 19:10 GMT 21 November
19:10 GMT 21 November
Tom McCoy BBC Sport journalist
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler celebrates an early career milestone against a Brentford side gaining momentum under Keith Andrews. BBC Sport examines some of the key themes before Saturday's match.
The Seagulls sit 11th in the table but have lost only one of their past seven league matches and shown signs of tightening up defensively, giving them the chance to record three consecutive clean sheets for the first time in the top flight since August 2022.
In their last game, a goalless draw at Crystal Palace, head coach Fabian Hurzeler named an unchanged starting line-up for the first time in the Premier League, saying he wanted "consistency".
However, the German indicated that rotation will remain part of his approach, explaining: "After the international break, the crunch time is starting and we need all of the players."
Hurzeler, 32, will take charge of his 50th Premier League match this weekend, becoming the youngest manager to reach the milestone.
He will be only the third boss to reach his half-century before turning 35, following Chris Coleman with Fulham in 2004 and the late Gianluca Vialli for Chelsea in 1999.
Thiago's goals key for improving Bees
Brentford have won four of their past six league games, including three of the previous four, taking them six points clear of the relegation zone.
However, that improvement has largely been built on home form, with 13 of their 16 points won at Gtech Community Stadium.
Their only points on the road so far came in last month's 2-0 win at West Ham.
The departures of Bryan Mbeumo and Yoanne Wissa - last season's joint top scorers - raised doubts about the Bees' attacking threat, but Igor Thiago's emergence is dispelling those concerns.
Injury ruined the Brazilian's first season in England following a £30m move from Club Brugge, but the 24-year-old is proving his worth in the current campaign.
His tally of eight Premier League goals is second only to Erling Haaland this term, while his shot-conversion rate of 32% is also among the best figures in the league.
Financial Fair Play rules in Premier League to change next seasonpublished at 18:10 GMT 21 November
18:10 GMT 21 November
Image source, Getty Images
The Premier League will from next season move to a new system of Financial Fair Play (FFP) based on squad costs.
The clubs met in London on Friday to vote on three possible methods of replacing Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) got 14 votes in favour and six against, which is the minimum number that is required to exact a rule change.
Overall squad costs from next season will have to be limited to 85% of a club's revenue, although teams competing in Europe will have to adhere to Uefa's maximum of 70%.
Squad costs comprise player and manager wages, transfer fees and agents' fees.
Rules around sustainability, which set out a club's financial spending plans over the medium and long term, were passed unanimously.