Chris Hughton’s tactics were working perfectly until his captain conceded a late penalty for an inexplicable charge at Dominic Calvert-LewinWithout having access to Brighton defender Bruno’s inner monologue, or tucking a microphone into his beard, it’s difficult to know what provoked him. Why, at such a crucial moment in the match, did he choose to charge Dominic Calvert-Lewin with an elbow, in his own penalty box? Perhaps the youngster had said something. Perhaps he had tugged surreptitiously at the Spaniard’s doughty chinwear. We’ll never know. But we can be pretty sure that had Brighton’s captain kept his arms down, Everton’s late free-kick would have landed safely in goalkeeper Mathew Ryan’s arms. Related: Wayne Rooney penalty rescues Everton from defeat against...
Chris Hughton and Tony Bloom have been made free men of Brighton but the manager and owner know their team begin as one of the relegation favouritesGuardian writers’ predicted position 20th (NB: this is not necessarily Ben Fisher’s prediction but the average of our writers’ tips)Last season’s position 2nd (Championship) Related: Premier League 2017-18 preview No2: Bournemouth | Ben Fisher Continue reading...
Twenty years ago it looked all over but an unflappable manager, a sparkling French winger and special team spirit have taken them back to the promised landTwo days after an exhausted Brighton had lost to Sheffield Wednesday in last season’s play-off semi-final, the club announced that the manager, Chris Hughton, had signed a new four-year contract. In the afterglow of ostensible failure that sort of thing might have been regarded as inadvisable by some, but not Brighton. Hughton is part of a plan, one that has brought them to the Premier League.It has been a plan 20 years in the making. Year Zero for Brighton was 1997, when they eked out a draw on the final day of the season...