Sussex

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We asked for your thoughts after Wednesday night's Carabao Cup game between Oxford United and Brighton.

Here are some of your comments:

Andrew: OK, it was Oxford United. Even so, a competent and expected win. The Greek boys looking good, but the jury should be out until they play against the big boys in the Premier League. A much needed win and a confidence booster for the games to come.

Raymond: Good to watch. Could have been eight or 10. Don't read too much into it but defence needs tightening in whatever team we put out.

Sarah: Jason Steele needs to be our number one!

Steve: Great performance giving the manager some serious pause for thought for team selection. Steele in goal was faultless and must be a contender to take over between the posts. Three goalscoring debutants, and Gruda giving a player of the match performance. Finally, Tzimas scoring two and looking like a proper striker! Exciting times ahead!

Mick: A good display against a very physical opposition. Some very good displays. Defence looked good and kept their shape well. The debutants acquitted themselves really well. Gruda was man of the match but Tzimas ran him close with two amazing goals. Begs the question why wasn't he on the bench on Saturday?

Peter: Fabulous display and it looks like we've got a decent number nine in Tzimas. Good displays all round and Gruda and Gomez were superb as well. Hopefully Fabian has seen enough to put Tzimas and Kostoulas in the league side.

Tony: It'll be interesting to see if Tzimas starts on Sunday. He's made quite the impact here.

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Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler on the clinical 6-0 win over Oxford United in the second round of the Carabao Cup: "I think it's positive. We scored six goals, that's a positive thing.

"Of course, we were quite sloppy in some moments. It starts with the first action where we gave away an easy pass, so we invited them to score goals in the first half.

"In the second half we started strong. For the first 70 minutes we played a good game, we created chances. Then again, we had a lot of changes and after the substitutions we lost a bit of structure, but we have a brilliant goalkeeper in Jason Steele.

"Overall, we have to be positive. We created a lot of chances, we kept a clean sheet with a little bit of luck, with a great goalkeeper."

On the importance of having leaders like James Milner and Jason Steele: "I always emphasise how important leaders are for me and they are two great leaders on and off the pitch. They're not only great leaders, but they're also great players.

"I am very pleased with their performance, especially Jason, he made a lot of great saves. I always say we are very, very lucky to have such a good number two in our goal."

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The draw has been made for the Carabao Cup third round, with 15 Premier League clubs having made it through or entering at this stage.

There are two all-Premier League ties, while holders Newcastle host League One Bradford City.

Ties will take place across two weeks, beginning on 15 and 22 September.

All the fixtures featuring top-flight sides are shown below in the order they were drawn:

• Port Vale v Arsenal

• Swansea City v Nottingham Forest

• Lincoln City v Chelsea

• Tottenham Hotspur v Doncaster Rovers

• Brentford v Aston Villa

• Huddersfield Town v Manchester City

• Liverpool v Southampton

• Newcastle United v Bradford City

• Wolves v Everton

• Crystal Palace v Millwall

• Burnley v Cardiff City

• Barnsley v Brighton

• Fulham v Cambridge United

See the full draw

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport journalist

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Brighton have only picked up one point from their opening two Premier League games so places in the team could well be up for grabs.

And while this was a fully changed team from their defeat by Everton, most of their XI were players who feature in the league – and then there were the youngsters who shone from the bench.

Boscagli struck the opener on his debut following his summer free transfer move from PSV Eindhoven. Gruda and Gomez have both scored for Fabian Hurzeler's team in the Premier League.

And then on came two 19-year-old signings - £20m Tzimas and £10m Watson – and £30m 18-year-old Charalampos Kostoulas.

Tzimas netted twice and set up Watson for number six.

Will some feature on Sunday against Manchester City? You have to imagine so.

Oxford have also started their league season poorly and are one of three EFL teams on zero points.

Their defending and their finishing were equally shocking here – they actually had more shots on target than Brighton managed.

Steele's 10 saves were the most any goalkeeper has had to make in a Carabao Cup tie since February 2024 - but most of those stops were routine.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

What did you make of Brighton's display?

Eight changes for Oxford from the side who lost 1-0 to Birmingham.

Summer signings Nik Prelec and Luke Harris are on the bench and could come on for debuts.

Oxford XI: Ingram, Long, Moore, Spencer, Currie, Vaulks, Brannagan, Phillips, Placheta, Mills, M Harris.

Subs: Bradshaw, Cumming, De Keersmaecker, Goodrham, Harris, Prelec, Sibley, Snowden, Ter Avest.

Brighton change the entire team who lost 2-0 to Everton.

There are debuts for summer signing defenders Olivier Boscagli and Diego Coppola, and a first start for 17-year-old Harry Howell.

Brighton XI: Steele, Julio, Gruda, Hinshelwood, Milner, Boscagli, Kadioglu, Gomez, Veltman, Coppola, Howell.

Subs: Kostoulas, Lamptey, McGill, O'Riley, Baleba, Simmonds, Tasker, Tzimas, Watson.

There are four games involving Premier League sides in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Everton v Mansfield Town

• Fulham v Bristol City

• Oxford United v Brighton

• Grimsby Town v Manchester United (20:00) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 19:45 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Johnny Cantor
BBC Radio Sussex reporter

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What an impressive individual Diego Coppola is at just 21 years of age.

He talks well and is quite charming actually. Very softly spoken but, having seen him on the pitch, there are probably two sides to his personality.

A soft, warm figure when you chat to him, but when you see him on the pitch he is wholehearted and physical. As he said in his interview with me - 'I want the striker to know, I want them to feel me right behind'.

Whether he will be able to do that in the UK we will have to wait and see but he really spoke well and will be itching to get his opportunity.

Knowing where you are is important. Everybody is of a similar age at Brighton. He is 21, Lewis Dunk and Danny Welbeck are older, but the large majority are younger players and he knows he is not going to have to rush. He knows the club will give him time and knows the club will give him opportunities.

That is quite important, knowing where you fit into things, but also just trying to impress every training session. I felt he articulated that very well.

He is not just expecting to just come straight in. He's not just thinking 'I'm an Italy international and I should be coming straight into this side at Brighton', he is more 'no, I have just come into a new club in a new county and I've just got to work hard and deserve to be in the starting XI'.

Listen to Johnny's full chat with Coppola in Albion Unlimited on BBC Sounds

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Summer addition Diego Coppola could make his first competitive appearance for Brighton on Wednesday when they travel to Oxford United in the Carabao Cup, after head coach Fabian Hurzeler hinted at his inclusion during Tuesday's news conference.

The 21-year-old defender is confident he will make the most of any opportunity to play but remains in "no rush" as he enjoys his time with the Seagulls.

"I'm super happy with my situation here and I'm settling in very, very good," Coppola told BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast. "I've found a house and have a car, so everything is fine.

"Also, on the pitch and the training ground, I really like the work we're putting in. I like the team - we are a young team, so everyone is more or less my age and I'm having good relationships with everybody.

"I've only experienced Hellas Verona - my team in Italy - so let's say the structure and the training ground here is way bigger and with more facilities. A bigger gym, a sauna, a spa - so it's a big step for me and I'm really enjoying it.

"He [Hurzeler] wants us to go 100% in training, have the right mentality and put the team before ourselves – that's the most important thing.

"I think he's quite happy with how I'm doing and I hope I'll get my game time, but there's no rush because the league just started.

"I will get chances - and when I do, I will do good."

Listen to the full chat and more on BBC Sounds

Karan Vinod
BBC Sport journalist

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Brighton are open to the prospect of letting attacking midfielder Facundo Buonanotte leave on loan this summer.

The 20-year-old spent the 2024-25 season on loan at Leicester City and has been linked with a move away to secure regular first-team football.

Sources have told BBC Sport the Seagulls would consider a loan switch.

Buonanotte joined Brighton from Rosario Central in January 2023 and has shown glimpses of his potential in the Premier League. However, the Argentine has struggled for minutes and was on loan last season at Leicester City, featuring in 31 Premier League games and starting in 14 of them.

BBC Sport understands that several clubs are interested in securing the services of the midfielder. Brighton remain keen to ensure that any move would guarantee sufficient playing time to continue his progression

Buonanotte has found the net 13 times in his 103 Premier League appearances with the Seagulls and Leicester City.

The latest episode BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast has dropped!

Host Johnny Cantor and former Seagull Warren Aspinall preview Brighton's trip to Oxford United on Wednesday evening, plus we hear from midfielder Yasin Ayari on last week's Everton defeat and catch up with summer signing Diego Coppola.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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