Brighton 6 Wolves 0
The remarkable thing about this thrashing of Wolves is that it was achieved in the absence of arguably Brighton’s three best players – Mitoma, Caicedo and Mac Alister – and young tyro forward Evan Ferguson was injured.
That is the strength of Brighton; the ability to adapt.
These past few seasons they have lost Ben White, Yves Bissouma, Cucarella, and Leandro Trossard on the pitch and Dan Ashworth, Graham Potter and his back room team off it.
Despite this here we are, in our most successful season ever, challenging for Europe.
Credit for this must be shared between owner Tony Bloom – as tough as Daniel Levy of Spurs in negotiation – but a stronger affinity to his club; the fans who have realistic expectations starting with survival; and the spirit of the players who recovered from a dramatic and unlucky defeat to Manchester United on penalties in the FA Cup semi final and a 1-3 reverse to Nottingham Forest during the week.
Above all, coach Roberto de Zerbi has earned plaudits for his stylish football and game management.
We still have to play Arsenal and Newcastle away and the Manchester clubs at home – with winnable games against Everton and Southampton – and it might be that Caicedo, Mitoma and Mac Alister were not just rested but may be sold.
If that happens you won’t hear De Zerbi or the fans moan and capable replacements are already lined up.
We are not doing so badly in the county championship either.
After posting 455-5 in the first innings v Gloucestershire with Chet Pujara scoring his 58th first class century (158) we had Gloucestershire at 198-9 at close of the third day.
A draw looks the likeliest result but Gloucestershire have had the ‘Indian Sign’ over Sussex in recent years so avoiding defeat is the order of the day.
