Brighton & Hove Albion

Sam Drury
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Reuters

It has been said that a player is never more highly thought of than when they are unavailable.

Joao Pedro has done a very good job of enhancing his reputation while he has been on the pitch this season but, as Brighton struggled to find a way past Ipswich, it grew that bit more.

Brighton played well for the most part and manager Fabian Hurzeler was adamant that they had created enough to win the match.

But the only clear cut chances came in the same passage of play in the first half when Georginio Rutter and then Kaoru Mitoma were thwarted by Ipswich goalkeeper Arijanet Muric.

Beyond that, there were little more than half chances with a number of encouraging moves breaking down at the crucial moment due to a heavy touch or pass slightly behind an onrushing team-mate.

Yankuba Minteh looked a threat, particularly in the first half, while midfield pair Carlos Baleba and Yasin Ayari had moments of real quality.

Ultimately, though, when Brighton needed that moment of inspiration, a cool head and a quick mind to create that game-winning chance, they were found wanting.

That might still have been the case with Joao Pedro on the pitch but the Seagulls will be left with the nagging feeling that a knock on international duty might have cost them two points.

Image source, Getty Images

32.2% of Brighton’s Premier League games have been drawn (87/270), the highest share of any side to have played in more than one campaign in the competition.

This was Brighton’s 27th goalless draw in the Premier League, three more than any other side since they were promoted in 2017.

Image source, Getty Images

Fabian Hurzeler spoke to BBC Match of the day after Brighton's draw with Ipswich: "It feels a little bit disappointing after the game but I never want to judge my team off the result, I always follow the process.

"Today we did everything to win the game. We had enough chances to win and defended well enough to win the game, so in the end, I'm happy with the performance, satisfied with the performance.

"We don't get the result we want but long-term I'm sure if you have this performance, it will pay off."

On lack of clear chances: "Afterwards, of course, you can discuss several situations but I am still convinced we had enough chances, enough shots on the goal to win this game.

"We could have created more, we know this, but Ipswich are not a bad team. We are not happy that we didn't score, we had enough chances and then you have to be happy with the job, take this one point and try to improve next time."

On not much stoppage time: "I didn't understand it. Last game, at the Emirates, we watched the clock and saw how much additional time there was and the fourth official said, 'he will add it'.

"In the end, he will add three minutes and for me, that is two substitutions. We had more subs, plus corners, injuries. I think nobody can understand it.

"Even when I asked the referee, he couldn't give me an answer."

Click here to listen to BBC Radio Sussex's post-match interview with Fabian Hurzeler

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Brighton's performance, external

What did you make of Ipswich’s display?, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Read the match report and follow reaction

There are eight Premier League games on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you all the action and reaction throughout the day.

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Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week four, he takes on Femi Koleoso and Ife Ogunjobi from jazz band Ezra Collective, the 2023 Mercury Music Prize winners.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

People think I'm anti-Ipswich, but I'm not. I like Kieran McKenna and the way his team plays, I just think Norwich is a far nicer place to live.

They got their first point on the board against Fulham before the international break and I like the way they are going about things.

I still expect them to get relegated, but they have been smart with the players they have brought in and they are giving it a go to try to stay up.

However, I don't see them getting anything at Brighton because the Seagulls have got off to an absolute flyer under Fabian Hurzeler, and it is going to be tough for Ipswich to keep Kaoru Mitoma quiet.

Femi's prediction: 3-0

We saw how good Brighton are when they came to the Emirates.

Ife's prediction: 2-0

The same outcome, but a slightly smaller scoreline!

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler has been named Premier League manager of the month.

The award comes after his side went unbeaten in their opening three matches, beating Everton and Manchester United while drawing against Arsenal.

After Hurzeler's first month in charge, the Seagulls sit third in the league.

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Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna has praised Brighton's "really good habits and traits" as his side go in search of a first win since returning to the Premier League when they face the Seagulls on Saturday.

"They've had a good start and they're a really good side, no doubt about it," Ipswich boss McKenna told Town TV.

"They've got some really good habits and traits over the last couple of managers. They are comfortable in possession and build really well through the pitch.

"They've got some fantastic talent and individual quality, both starters and on the bench.

"The new manager's come in and he's putting his own style on it and improving them in certain areas and probably making them an even more well-rounded threat.

"So we know they're a really good side and it's a good challenge for us. But it's another one to really look forward to, to go and impose ourselves, be brave and go with the belief that we can get a result."

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler says Ipswich will provide "a big and different challenge" to any team they have faced so far.

"In the Premier League, there are no easy games," Hurzeler said. "They are a team with a great coach and he has great ideas. They have a great togetherness and they attack very intensely.

"It will be a big and different challenge for us, but we will face it and we look forward to it.

"The expectation is always the same and that is to go out and display the basic things. That is what I demand from my players in every game, no matter if we’re playing Manchester United or Ipswich.

"Maybe the expectation is that we go and win this game, but when you are ambitious you have to deal with this pressure and expectation from the outside."

Image source, Getty Images

Under new boss Fabian Hurzeler, Brighton have had a fine start to the Premier League season.

We asked what is the one thing nobody is talking about but really should be?

Here are some of your comments:

David: We now have a good sized squad with strength in depth, but why are so many players suffering injuries ? Our numbers were terrible last season and we already have issues added to that this season, including most new arrivals. So, is it training, fitness related or just bad luck?

John: I think we’ve done well but had some huge slices of luck along the way. The overturned penalty awarded to Everton, the Manchester United offside goal and the Declan Rice sending off. I think it’s a little too early to expect this to be a really big season. Let’s see how we respond as the luck changes, as it inevitably will.

Alan: With the departure of Pascal Gross, Billy Gilmour was the midfielder who should have been the first name on the team sheet every week. Calm, dependable, and with a terrific full season behind him. How anyone could warrant replacing him with a number of Premier-League-untested options, and accept comparatively so little a fee for him, is beyond me.

Daniel: How good we have been, we could win the league if we keep this up but nobody is taking us seriously. If Manchester City get relegated, what's stopping us?

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Ipswich Town (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• James Milner could be out for up to three weeks with a hamstring injury.

• Hurzeler said "it is a possibility" that winger Ferdi Kadioglu will make his debut this weekend, but Solly March is not close to returning despite now training with the team.

• On March: "If you are injured for that long then it’s a long way back. The positive thing is he is back on the training pitch. It is now about not putting pressure on him."

• Summer signing Matt O'Riley "is in very good spirits" but it is too soon to put a timescale on his return: "He is around us and is doing his rehab."

• The Brighton boss said they used the international break to "recover some players from injury and integrate them into the squad," as well as "reflect and re-analyse" the opening games.

• More on having time to 'reflect': "I planned the next phase too because now we have a lot of games, and a lot of home games, so we want to use this chance [to get as many points as possible]."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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On the latest episode of the Albion Unlimited podcast ESPN journalist Roberto Rojas discusses Inter Miami's Paraguay midfielder Diego Gomez, who has been linked with a Brighton move in January:

"I think he's like a Swiss Army knife, able to do so much. He can track back and defend, lay off assists and he can score. What kind of team doesn't want to have that kind of player?

"When he does cometo the Premier League, it will be a big jump. But through all of the challenges he's faced such as injuries, he's come back better. It's credit to what he brings to the table.

"Whatever position any manager wants to play him in, he'll strive. You're getting a player that can do so much, the spirit of the team from midfield."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Three games in and only Manchester City and Liverpool separate Brighton from the top of the table.

It has been a fine start for new boss Fabian Hurzeler and there have been plenty of plaudits for Albion.

But what is the one thing nobody is talking about that you've spotted - good or bad?

Tell us over here, external - and we'll feature your replies on Thursday

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On the latest episode of BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast, Brighton commentator Johnny Cantor discussed Lewis Dunk's England career after he was left out of Lee Carsley's first Three Lions squad:

"I think it's a shame that he hasn't got more caps. When he was playing really consistently for the club, he probably didn't get the caps, and he returned to the squad when he wasn't at the peak of his powers.

"He's going to make more appearances for Albion now. He's never really been a regular for England and with the new manager, and the likes of [Marc] Guehi and [Ezri] Konsa doing well, it probably does mark the end [of his England career]. But you can never say never."

Former Seagulls striker Warren Aspinall added: "It's great for the Albion - we want him to rest up. He probably had a two-week summer holiday with his family and he's got to an age where he might be going to the Euros or World Cup as a bit-part player.

"I would go out on his terms. I'd announce it [international retirement] and say that he wants to concentrate on Brighton and his family. I don't think he will because you can never say never, but I'd love him to say that so we can get the best out of him for Brighton."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

The latest episode of BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast has landed.

Tim Durrans is joined by Johnny Cantor and Warren Aspinall to discuss how the Seagulls have got on during the international break.

ESPN journalist Roberto Rojas discusses January transfer window target Diego Gomez and the progress of his Paraguay team-mate Julio Enciso.

And Ipswich Town commentator Brenner Woolley joins the podcast to discuss Saturday's match against the Tractor Boys.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Scott McCarthy
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

“You’re unbeaten against Everton, Manchester United and Arsenal. With back-to-back home games against Ipswich and Nottingham Forest, you could be top of the league by the end of September.”

This was the opinion of my non-Brighton supporting friend in the pub at the weekend. You can tell he is non-Brighton supporting, because Albion fans of a certain generation will be looking at those Amex fixtures with as much trepidation as anticipation.

The Seagulls have a long and proud history of veering from the sublime to the ridiculous. 'Typical Brighton', we call it.

Classics of the genre include losing a League One game 1-0 to nine-man Walsall on the Saturday before knocking Manchester City out of the League Cup on Wednesday.

'Typical Brighton' is not some relic from the Albion’s days in the lower divisions either. Roberto de Zerbi’s Seagulls lost 5-1 at home to Everton in May 2023, then won 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium to all-but end Arsenal’s hopes of winning the Premier League title.

If 'typical Brighton' rears its head again, expect the Tractor Boys and Forest to be heading home from Sussex with something to show for their efforts.

But say for a moment it doesn’t.

What if Fabian Hurzeler, despite being the youngest permanent manager in Premier League history, manages to end 'typical Brighton' as a phenomenon?

If the Albion can eliminate their penchant for throwing in total rickets in games they are expected to win, while continuing to pick up impressive results like the three we have seen already, then a return to European football will be within their grasp.

Maybe then I will start to get as excited about what this season could have in store for the Albion, as my non-Brighton supporting friend in the pub.

Find more from Scott McCarthy at We Are Brighton, external

The Premier League's summer transfer window saw clubs spend almost £2bn in all.

Data from Footballtransfers.com, external shows the biggest net spend by a club - that’s all the money spent minus all that came in from sales - was Brighton.

The Seagulls had a net spend of £153.5m.

On the flip side, the club who generated the biggest net summer profit on transfers was Manchester City, who made £115.8m, thanks in large part to the sale of Julian Alvarez.

Scott McCarthy
Fan writer

There might be life after Pascal Gross. His departure for Dortmund was heartbreak - on a par with Girls Aloud breaking up - and replacing the 10-15 goal involvements he guaranteed each season looked near impossible.

However, seven points from three tough games so far, minus Der Kaiser, bodes well for the season ahead.

Find more from Scott McCarthy at We Are Brighton, external