Match Report
Brighton and Hove Albion (0) 2-2 (1) Fulham
Premier League Match Day 04 at Amex Stadium, Falmer
Saturday 1st September 2018 KO: 15:00
Referee:
Lee Probert (Wiltshire)
|
Glenn Murray scored a second-half double as Brighton battled back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Fulham. The veteran striker equalised with a late penalty at the Amex Stadium, having halved the deficit with 23 minutes remaining.
Fulham, whose goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli saved a first-half spot-kick from Pascal Gross, looked on course for victory after goals from Andre Schürrle and the in-form Aleksandar Mitrovic either side of the break put them in control.
Albion began positively by pinning the visitors back and forcing a succession of corners, and they had a golden opportunity for a 25th-minute opener.
Murray, whose offside position in the buildup briefly bamboozled Fulham’s backline, was brought down by Luciano Vietto as he turned in the box following good work from Anthony Knockaert.
Gross stepped up to take the resultant penalty but, after perhaps being fortunate to see a relatively tame spot-kick find the net against Manchester United a fortnight ago, the German’s placed effort at the end of a stuttering run-up was tipped wide of the left post by Bettinelli.
Fulham had lost their five previous meetings with Albion and, without their injured captain, Tom Cairney, they were second-best in the first-half sunshine.
Slavisa Jokanovic’s side did offer some attacking intent though and went ahead two minutes before the break.
Jean Michaël Seri produced a delightful dinked through ball and his fellow summer signing Schürrle raced clear to calmly slip his second goal in two games past Mathew Ryan.
The away side started the second period in the ascendancy but should have been pegged back with 56 minutes played.
The winger Solly March was sent clean through on goal by Davy Pröpper’s pass but his wayward shot flew over Bettinelli’s crossbar, prompting groans from the frustrated home fans and an angry response from Chris Hughton, Albion’s manager.
| Match Stats |
Brighton |
Fulham |
| Goals |
(0) 2 |
2 (1) |
|
| Scorers |
Murray 67 |
Schurrle 43 |
| |
Murray 84 pen |
Mitrovic 62 |
| , |
| Goal attempts |
15 |
10 |
| On target |
5 |
5 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
33% |
50% |
| Possession |
41% |
59% |
| Passes |
364 |
548 |
| Passes Success |
78% |
85% |
| Crosses |
29 |
10 |
| Crosses Success |
28% |
10% |
| Corners |
7 |
1 |
| Tackles |
19 |
14 |
| Tackles Success |
0% |
0% |
| Saves |
3 |
3 |
| Fouls |
12 |
14 |
| Offsides |
2 |
4 |
| Yellows |
3 |
3 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: SkySports |
Fulham then took advantage of the poor finishing and some hesitant defending to double their advantage six minutes later. Dunk’s dithering led to him being dispossessed by Mitrovic and, after his initial attempt was repelled by Ryan, the Serbia international smashed home his fourth league goal of the season in front of the jubilant travelling supporters.
Fulham needed to take the pace out of the game but their defence was carved wide open by Knockaert as the Seagulls quickly pulled one back.
Knockaert ran with the ball from the right and then slipped the ball to the unmarked Murray, who finished through the legs of Bettinelli.
Fulham had looked like joining Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Leicester on the short list of teams to have left the Amex with three Premier League points but they had to settle for a draw after Mitrovic went from hero to villain.
The summer signing from Newcastle was penalised for handball by Lee Probert and Murray coolly sent Bettinelli the wrong way from the spot, finishing powerfully into the left of the net six minutes from time.
Brighton and Hove Albion: M Ryan, Montoya, Duffy, Dunk, Bong, Knockaert (Jahanbakhsh 74), Stephens, Pröpper (Locadia 74), Solly March, Groß (Bissouma 60), Murray
Unused substitutes: Button, Balogun, Bernardo, Kayal
Goals:
Murray 67 (right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Anthony Knockaert.)
Murray 84 (converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.)
Booked: Stephens (45,f), Pröpper (52,f), Murray (59,f)
Fulham: Bettinelli, Fosu-Mensah, Odoi, Mawson, Le Marchand, Zambo Anguissa (Johansen 74), McDonald, Seri, Vietto (R Sessegnon 74), Mitrovic, Schürrle (Chambers 87)
Unused substitutes: Fabri, Christie, Bryan, Kamara
Goals:
Schürrle 43 (right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jean Michael Seri with a through ball.)
Mitrovic 62 (right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.)
Booked: Johansen (82,not retreating), Mitrovic (84,hb), Le Marchand (90+4,f)
Referee:
Lee Probert (Wiltshire)
Attendance: 30,526