'Carnage' - is transport behind attendance issues at Brighton?published at 12:44 6 May
12:44 6 May
Scott McCarthy Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Attendance at Amex Stadium is a hot topic. There were at least 2,000 season ticket seats that went unsold on exchange for the Newcastle game. Looking around the stadium, there were many thousands more empty seats.
Those who do show up are leaving early in increasing numbers. The ground is now often half empty by the time the final whistle blows. Even Fabian Hurzeler spoke about it following the 3-2 win over West Ham. On that occasion, those who left early missed Albion goals in the 89th and 93rd minutes.
Brighton are still in the race for European football next season - so why are so many season ticket-holders staying away or leaving early?
The answer lies in transport. The Amex relies on public transport. For Saturday games, the train service tends to be good. But on a Sunday or midweek, it turns into carnage.
This is obviously an issue when TV demands butcher the fixture list. Many people are evidently deciding the chaos is not worth the bother.
I live 12 miles from Amex Stadium. I have made it home from watching England at Wembley this season - 88 miles away - faster than getting back from some Albion games.
Roadworks currently taking place on the A27 just before Falmer are admittedly not helping. Some fans reported getting on a Park & Ride bus in Portslade at 1pm and only making it into their seat at 2.37pm on Sunday. A 7.7 mile journey taking 97 minutes and meaning they missed the opening half hour of the game.
Yet even when the A27 is fully open again, the problems with public transport will remain. It feels at times like the club are unaware of quite how bad it can be.
Maybe if Hurzeler and the Albion decision-makers who seem perplexed by the early leavers and no-shows tried the time-consuming and arduous journey themselves after a home game, they would better understand why people find it off-putting enough to dictate whether they attend games or not.
'Everybody wants to prove wrong the team that sells them' - Mintehpublished at 12:27 5 May
12:27 5 May
Image source, Getty Images
Brighton forward Yankuba Minteh spoke to BBC Radio Sussex after scoring against his former club Newcastle United: "Everybody wants to prove [wrong] the team that sells them, so I try to do that every time I play against them and I'm happy about it.
"If we grab the eighth place, that would be really good because that is what we're playing for."
Defender Jan Paul van Hecke, who returned to action after getting concussion, added: "It was a tough period, the first few days were bad getting headaches and being really tired. I was a bit worried but I could see a big difference after six or seven days.
"We can do a lot of things better, hopefully we can improve over the next few days and get Europe over the line."
Brighton 1-1 Newcastle - the fans' verdictpublished at 11:23 5 May
11:23 5 May
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on Brighton's Premier League match against Newcastle.
Here are some of your comments:
Brighton fans
Fran: A draw was a fair result as I thought we lacked creativity in and around their box. Our build up play is so slow, giving the opposition so much time to get back into position. We hold the ball at the back waiting for the strikers to come to us but they don't and then we don't seem to know what to do so just pump it forward and give it away. Very frustrating and boring to watch. Let's just get the season finished!
Ben: Referee wanted to give them absolutely everything from minute one. A one in three rate for calling a penalty is abysmal for a referee of that calibre. Every time we tackled them and got the ball, foul. The opposite but no ball, play on no issue. Absolutely awful overall.
Stuart: Disappointed not to win the game. We were so close, but to be fair Newcastle have some amazing assets in their team, none more so than Craig Pawson, he played a blinder.
Newcastle fans
Chris: That was an incredibly frustrating game to watch. We have gone from scoring for fun to not being able to get our key striker into half chance positions, all in the space of a few games.
Philip: Disappointing in the first half, but really improved in the second. Would have won with more composure in the box. Dan Burn was man of the match for me. Tonali had probably his poorest game for us, but he's only human!
Roy: Poor performance overall, but a point is probably a fair result. Awful dive from Willock and he deserved his yellow. Wieffer very lucky to still be on the pitch for Brighton after a clear second yellow card was not given for some strange reason. I'll take a draw away against a very good Brighton side
Catch up on the Premier League actionpublished at 08:06 5 May
08:06 5 May
Mark Chapman presents highlights and analysis from Sunday's four Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.
'A good team performance with some easy mistakes'published at 17:11 4 May
17:11 4 May
Image source, Getty Images
Fabian Hurzeler spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Brighton's draw against Newcastle: "There were too many mistakes and then we conceded a very cheap penalty which was a late on in the game. Last time we had a great comeback against West Ham last time but this week was also possible but football was not on our side so we have to make the best of it."
On whether the football is on an upward trajectory: "Absolutely. A good team performance, although we made some easy mistakes. We were not able to control the game like we wanted to but overall it was a good team performance, we stuck together and supported each other and then we have a chance to win games."
Did you know?published at 16:55 4 May
16:55 4 May
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Only Southampton (11) have conceded more goals in the 89th minute or later in the Premier League this season than Brighton and Hove Albion, with Alexander Isak's penalty the eighth the Seagulls have conceded.
Brighton 1-1 Newcastle: Seagulls lose ground in European huntpublished at 16:43 4 May
16:43 4 May
Bobbie Jackson BBC Sport Journalist
Image source, Reuters
What a difference a week makes.
Brighton scored two late goals to snatch a win against West Ham last weekend but were given a taste of their own medicine by Newcastle.
That triumph over the Hammers halted a five-game winless streak and should have been the catalyst to allow Brighton to kick on in their hunt for European football.
However, the Seagulls lacked rhythm and can count themselves lucky to have picked up a point against Newcastle.
Yankuba Minteh's 28th-minute strike was against the run of play and Brighton didn't look like adding a second.
It took Brighton another 52 minutes to muster a shot.
They were rightly given a reprieve when two penalties awarded to Newcastle were overturned by the video assistant referee, however, Yasin Ayari had no argument when a spot-kick was awarded against him for handball.
Brighton, who had conceded at least two goals in each of their past six league outings, could not hang on with Alexander Isak rolling in the penalty with just one minute left of the 90.
Victory would have moved the Seagulls up to eighth and in a strong position for a European berth, but the draw keeps them 10th and hoping others slip up in the final three games.
Sutton's predictions: Brighton v Newcastlepublished at 11:13 4 May
11:13 4 May
Brighton got back to winning ways last weekend thanks to Carlos Baleba's brilliant late strike against West Ham.
The Seagulls beat Newcastle at St James' Park earlier in the season too, but that was before Eddie Howe's side hit their stride, and it is a big ask for Brighton to repeat that result.
Newcastle were just relentless in their win over Ipswich and another three points here would be massive in their bid for a top-five finish - I don't think they will get them, but we will see a few goals.
Can Seagulls beat Newcastle again?published at 11:40 2 May
11:40 2 May
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Former Brighton striker Warren Aspinall spoke to the Albion Unlimited podcast before Sunday's match against Newcastle: "I think if we can score first, we will win the game convincingly. They [Newcastle] crumble - we saw that against Aston Villa.
"They haven't got the pace at the back to chase games. Once [Kieran] Trippier and [Tino] Livramento get forward, [Fabian] Schar goes wandering and we can really exploit them.
"Brighton will have a spring in their step and the confidence is there after the comeback [against West Ham]. There is togetherness again and there are no individuals playing for themselves.
Hurzeler takes 'small advice' from Toure on reaching 'the highest level'published at 15:49 1 May
15:49 1 May
Image source, Getty Images
Brighton welcomed former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure to the training ground this week, with Fabian Hurzeler pleased by what he and his team learned from the Premier League title winner.
"In general we are a very open club and we always want to learn from other departments and other personalities," said the Brighton boss. "He's an unbelievable personality and he was a great player, so therefore we have two aspects when he was here.
"The first one is he has a good relationship to the African players and I think it's very important we have someone there who can talk with the players, who has an understanding of where they come from, how is the culture there and what are their needs. I think that's something where I also can learn from.
"And on the other side he was a great player so he can give me and the players some small advice on what it needs to be at the highest level.
"We had a really interesting exchange. Although I didn't have that much time, I took away a lot of things and for sure we'll stay in touch and let's see how this relationship continues."
Toure made 229 Premier League appearances in his eight seasons at Manchester City and won three league titles, an FA Cup and two League Cups.
Ayari and Baleba nominated for goal of the monthpublished at 14:14 1 May
14:14 1 May
Image source, Getty Images
Brighton midfield duo Carlos Baleba and Yasin Ayari are both up for the Premier League's goal of the month award for April.
Both strikes came in Albion's 3-2 win against West Ham last Saturday, Ayari picking out the top corner in the first half before Baleba's beautiful curler won Brighton the points in the dying moments.
Fans have until Monday, 5 May to cast their vote on the Premier League's official website.
Hurzeler on Dunk, positive energy and Newcastlepublished at 11:02 1 May
11:02 1 May
Katie Stafford BBC Sport journalist
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Newcastle (kick-off 14:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke trained with the team on Wednesday and is "ready to start" after recovering from a head injury.
Joel Veltman, Tariq Lamptey, Karou Mitoma and Igor Julio are also in contention to play, with Adam Webster another who returned to training this week: "We have a lot more options so it is all looking a lot more positive."
He said Brighton "showed character and personality" in the victory over West Ham and the group "are full of positivity and energy" for the remaining games.
He said it is "important to live the moment" and that is why he enjoyed celebrating with the fans after that home win to the Hammers.
On having Yaya Toure around the training ground this week: "We are a very open club and we want to learn from other personalities. It is important you have someone who can talk to the players who understands where they have come from and their needs. I can also learn something [from that]."
On Lewis Dunk's influence in the team: "We can't praise him enough. He has had a difficult season and not really got got into rhythm but he is always there. He never hides and there for me shows his big character."
He hopes Dunk's return will boost everyone's confidence: "I try to be a role model regarding positivity and giving joy to the players even when we have bad results because you have to love the challenges you face."
On opponents Newcastle: "We know it is another big, big challenge for us but we are looking forward to it and after training this week, we are ready for it."
He agreed it is a challenge "to stop their dynamic play" and it will require "physicality" to compete against them."
'He has got everything, but a lot to learn' published at 11:06 30 April
11:06 30 April
Image source, Getty Images
Former Brighton striker Warren Aspinall spoke to BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast about midfielder Carlos Baleba:
"He's got amazing attributes. For a young player, he's got everything. What frustrates me is that when he plays, it's like he's playing with his mates in the park. He knows he can switch it on and off whenever he wants.
"He sometimes gets caught out and Lewis [Dunk] has to be on to him. He's got a lot of things to learn because you have to be disciplined in that position. His pace has got him out of trouble on a couple of occasions.
On his goal against West Ham: "The bend on it was incredible - he's got that goal in his locker. He's clever, he bent it round the defender and used him as a wall so that the keeper couldn't see the ball. It was a wonderful strike."
180 seconds... was it season-defining?published at 12:30 29 April
12:30 29 April
Scott McCarthy Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
You can boil an egg in 180 seconds. You can pour a perfect pint of a well-known black stout from Ireland in 180 seconds. But can you turn around a football season which was heading off the rails in 180 seconds?
Brighton will be hoping so. With 89 minutes on the clock at the Amex on Saturday, plenty of Albion fans who had not walked out when West Ham went 2-1 ahead six minutes earlier were preparing to go into meltdown.
Graham Potter was getting ready to celebrate the Hammers ending their six-game winless run.
It seemed set to be the ultimate blow for those Seagulls supporters still unable to forgive Potter for walking out to join Chelsea in September 2022, followed by comments like "If I wanted an easy life, I would have stayed at Brighton."
Doctor Brighton had cured another opposition's ailing form. The Albion meanwhile were about to make it seven games of their own without victory. Leaving any hope of European football hanging by the thinnest of threads.
That was until everything changed. In 180 seconds. Kaoru Mitoma equalised and Carlos Baleba struck a 93rd minute rocket as the Albion somehow staged an epic comeback.
It left Potter as the crestfallen one, talking in a madcap post-match press conference about swearing and not being a robot.
What has characterised Brighton under Fabian Hurzeler this season is the way they go on lengthy good runs of form and lengthy bad runs of form. One incident or performance has often determined what happens for the next five or six games.
This trait has been most evident over the past two months. Lose 7-0. Win six in a row. Get knocked out the FA Cup. Don't win again for another six in a row.
Which is why what happened against West Ham has the potential to be season-defining. Is it the spark the Albion need to go on a run of results over the final four games and qualify for Europe? Fingers crossed.
David: Astonishing effort from the whole squad. We were so determined to win the game, so good!
Oscar: What an ending! Yasin Ayari - where do I start? He bossed the midfield and scored a goal to fit his perfect performance. Kaoru Mitoma was an amazing super-sub, using his pace down the wing. Carlos Baleba was in a different position to where he usually plays, but he played it really well. The whole team played amazing to comeback from 1-2 to win 3-2. Just amazing!
Tom: An absolutely incredible end to the game. A rollercoaster of emotions; however we cannot rely on late equalisers and winners. We need to build on this result and try to get maximum points. If West Ham hadn't switched off towards the end of the game, we would have gone away with no points. Fabian Hurzeler is a lucky man!
Noddy: No goalkeeper in the world would have been able to save those two goals.
Chris: A decent 'paper-over-the-cracks' performance at last, but that still can't win over a disappointing season. European football is only a very slim chance given Fulham and Bournemouth are still collecting points, our on and off form and unpredictable player performances. It really has been a wasted run-in so far. A change is needed at the top for next season.
West Ham fans
Steve: A better performance - very encouraging. We have nothing to play for, admittedly. It's about building for next year now. I think Potter should be given time, I'm starting to see us on the front foot. We move on.
Justin: Poor, lacklustre, abysmal! Take your pick. Potter has shown no tactical ability in his starting line-ups or substitutions. The team has shown no signs of improvement under him. I wasn't enamoured by his appointment. To only avoid a relegation battle because the three teams below us are so dire just isn't good enough for a man who was at one time going to be England's new manager.
Anthony: We were doing well and then we brought on Vladimir Coufal and he immediately helped Brighton score. It was a poor decision from Potter. They are playing well under him, and gradually improving, but they are either missing scoring opportunities or giving goals away by poor defending. Plenty of work to be done this summer.
Rod: Shocking, embarrassing, limp, laughable, clueless and unprofessional. Did I miss anything?
Peter: No amount of feeble excuses from Potter will disguise the fact that he has failed to fulfil his mandate.