🎧 Lack of bite at Wolvespublished at 16:34 BST 7 October
16:34 BST 7 October
Join Johnny Cantor, Warren Aspinall and Guy Butters as they react to Brighton's 1-1 draw with Wolves - a result that leaves the Seagulls 12th in the Premier League after seven games.
The trio break down the performance, debating standout displays, missed chances and where improvements are still needed before a busy run of fixtures after the international break.
Listen to every Brighton game live on BBC Radio Sussex, with all the build-up and full commentary with Johnny Cantor and Warren Aspinall, and there is a full preview of all Seagulls' matches on Fridays at 18:00 in The Weekend Warm-up
Should Dunk make way? How to Albion stop conceding?published at 09:21 BST 7 October
09:21 BST 7 October
Scott McCarthy Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Sir Alex Ferguson famously said "attack wins you games, defence wins you titles".
Now nobody is saying Brighton are going to win a Premier League title anytime soon. European qualification seems a million miles away at the moment.
But the Albion do have a defensive problem. It is something which seems to have gone a under the radar compared to pondering about identity under Fabian Hurzeler and an inability to beat any opponent in the bottom half of the Premier League.
In their past 28 Premier League games going back to the end of December, Brighton have recorded four clean sheets.
Two came against relegated duo Southampton and Ipswich, with one at Molineux last season when Wolves were already on the beach.
That means the only truly impressive shutout of the past nine months came when Chelsea were thrashed 3-0 at the Amex in February.
Regular Brighton watchers will not be surprised by this. The Albion have given away so many poor goals that it makes recording clean sheets virtually impossible.
Take the weekend draw at Wolves. A terrible attempt at clearing a free kick allows Marshall Munetsi to volley against the bar. The ball crashes into Bart Verbruggen and rebounds in for a ridiculous yet also comical own goal.
You might think this lack of shutouts would lead Hurzeler to try something different. Brighton signed two new centre backs in the summer, yet Diego Coppola and Olivier Boscagli are still awaiting their full Premier League debuts.
Hurzeler has swapped his full backs around but continues to religiously stick with Jan Paul van Hecke and Lewis Dunk.
Where it gets interesting is that all four of those most recent clean sheets came with Van Hecke partnered by Adam Webster.
Dunk has been in the Albion starting XI for just two clean sheets in a calendar year – the 0-0 draw with Brentford in December and a 1-0 win at Newcastle last October.
Hurzeler needs to solve the question of why Brighton cannot prevent opponents from scoring. Is taking his captain out of the firing line the answer?
Mel: Second week running the coaching staff have lost us points. This week against Brighton, Wolves went defensive with 35 minutes to go. The coaching staff lack confidence in their players, so the players lack confidence in themselves.
Doug: This is the first season where I am seriously concerned about our ability to survive relegation. Lack of urgency and attacking intent throughout, especially for the equaliser. No cohesion understandably with half a new team but surely passing the ball is a good idea instead of running into dead ends constantly. Make Jorgen Strand Larsen the captain as he shows the fight lacking in the rest of the team.
Mark: Much better performance. Two hard-fought draws against very good teams - hopefully onwards and upwards.
AJC: Wolves used to have an identity. I don't recognise the team anymore. We're just another Premier League team full of international players making good money without any connection to the club. We will go down. We must be the most defensive-minded, boring team in the league by a mile. Who goes to a back five with 30 minutes to go, sacrificing a striker in the process? Vitor Pereira has said how much working in the Premier LeagueL means to him. If he's not careful, he will blow his chance. The club is on a very slippery slope.
Brighton fans
Sarah: Predictably frustrating. Having beaten Manchester City and thrashed Chelsea, we just can't seem to beat the teams we should beat. Danny Welbeck plays better when he comes on later; he did so well last week; that was a very unfortunate header that gave Wolves their lead. I'd also give Jason Steele a chance now as he has played brilliantly in the cup games. We missed Joel Veltman, but Maxim De Cuyper seems promising. Overall, a scrappy draw; in the end, we were lucky to get that!
Phil: Wolves put in a very disciplined performance while Brighton had no discipline. The usual lack of ball control, and hence ball possession - except in the first 20 minutes, when Brighton had plenty of opportunities, but failed to create actual chances. The coaching team must take responsibility, not the players.
Lyn: Been feeling for a long time that the points we manage to steal are based on individual talent. Hard to get behind Fabian Hurzeler when I can't see how we plan to attack the opposition or how to manage pressure. I wish he would play the players in their natural positions and start with two actual full-backs. Lewis Dunk needs to be dropped and I would be giving our Greek strikers as many minutes as possible as Georginio Rutter has started the season poorly and we can't rely on Welbeck.
Joe: Lots of huff and puff with precious little to show for it. Aside from versus 10 men or League One opposition this seems to be the Brighton of here and now. The once edge-of-the-seat pizazz from a couple of seasons ago well and truly a thing of the past.
Watch Premier League highlights and analysispublished at 07:47 BST 6 October
07:47 BST 6 October
Pundits Joe Hart and Danny Murphy join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's five Premier League fixtures.
