Brentford 0 – 0 Brighton

Referee Andy Madley caught to his weapons to disregard a VAR overview and deny Brighton a penalty in a 0-0 draw at Brentford which retains them exterior the European spots.

Madley was referred to as to the overview monitor in first-half added time by VAR Michael Oliver after Lewis Dunk was hauled to the bottom by Yoane Wissa inside his personal space.

However he stunned many contained in the Gtech Group Stadium by retaining together with his on-field resolution after ruling the Brighton defender had initiated contact.

That was the principle speaking level of a recreation with lots at stake however little clear need to decide to a victory which might have all-but secured Brentford’s security, and brought Brighton again as much as seventh.

Ivan Toney missed Brentford’s greatest likelihood of the sport when he fired off-balance into Bart Verbruggen’s arms after half an hour, whereas Brighton didn’t threaten till second-half added time regardless of racking up 22 photographs.

Danny Welbeck ought to have gained the sport within the second minute of stoppage time when a flick-on despatched him clear over the midway line.

His wayward end allowed Brentford to maneuver some extent nearer to security, whereas Brighton stay behind West Ham and Newcastle in ninth.

How Brentford blunted Brighton

Thomas Frank resisted the urge to reunite his attacking triumvirate of Wissa, Toney and Bryan Mbeumo for the primary time this season by naming an unchanged group geared toward stifling Brighton and hitting on the break.

Issues performed out as he might have anticipated from the off, with the Seagulls controlling possession and territory with out testing Mark Flekken, whereas Wissa got here shut on the finish of a flowing counter-attack by capturing extensive.

Toney not less than examined Verbruggen quickly after when fed by his strike accomplice, however the half seemed to be ebbing out with out additional incident till VAR’s late intervention.

A Brighton nook was cleared with out a lot discover from the away facet, however Madley stopped the restart when the ball subsequent went out of play to go to the VAR overview monitor after he was alerted to a possible penalty by Oliver.

It took little time for the referee to go towards the video official’s suggestions, although, after recognizing Wissa had been tugged by Dunk first earlier than pulling the Brighton defender down within the field himself. He was adopted down the tunnel at half-time by quite a lot of irate Seagulls gamers, together with Dunk.

The second half barely turned extra of an occasion than the primary, as Brentford struggled to hyperlink up within the opposition half and Brighton continued to toil regardless of their superior possession.

They lastly threatened within the dying moments when Joao Pedro spun and noticed a harmful trying shot deflected extensive, earlier than Welbeck nodded the ensuing nook previous the close to publish.

The striker nonetheless had time for one more likelihood which ought to have stolen the factors in added time, when Julio Enciso’s nod set him clear over the midway line.

However, with solely Flekken to beat, he planted his shot extensive from a good angle as Brighton’s hopes of ending the evening again within the European spots went up in smoke.

Frank: If you cannot win, do not lose

Brentford supervisor Thomas Frank: “I feel it was a superb level. A well-deserved level, not a fortunate level. It was one we’ve missed a number of occasions this season – if you cannot win, do not lose.

“We bought a clear sheet, we have not had too a lot of them. That was nicely deserved, they’d loads of photographs however many exterior the field. I do not assume Mark [Flekken] had a extremely robust save.

“When it comes to the defensive mindset, we’re usually good at defending and there is been spells this season we’ve made too many errors. It was actually good right this moment and towards Man Utd as nicely.

“It was a reasonably even recreation, they’d extra of the ball nevertheless it may have gone both approach.”

On the VAR overview: “Improbable resolution. I simply spoke to the referees, so far as I do know it is the protocol the VAR needed to ask him to go to the display.

“Though it is clearly a foul on Wissa first, it is simply a part of the protocol. Between them, it labored nicely. It is good, Andy was good right this moment general. There was a number of tough conditions however he was good.”

De Zerbi: We performed as true Brighton

Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi: “I am actually happy with the efficiency, we performed as true Brighton, as we did towards Liverpool.

“I am disenchanted with the end result – we shot 24 occasions, we created six clear possibilities to attain. Eleven photographs on course, however we did not rating. We’re disenchanted, in our heads we misplaced two factors.”

On the VAR overview: “The referee was right, perhaps the choice was right. My assistant informed me at the start Dunk made a foul, however I’ve not seen the referee go to the display after which change the VAR’s resolution earlier than. I’ve discovered one thing new right this moment.”

What’s next?

Saturday sixth April 5:00pm


Kick off 5:30pm

Brentford play once more on Saturday within the Premier League, travelling to Aston Villa; kick-off 3pm.

Brighton additionally play on Saturday Evening Soccer, taking up Arsenal dwell on Sky Sports activities; kick-off 5.30pm.