Brighton 0-0 Brentford: Julio Enciso Misfires in Stalemate at the Amex
A match that promised much but delivered little saw Brighton and Brentford play out a goalless draw at the Amex Stadium on Saturday, December 28, 2024. The result extended Brighton's winless Premier League run to six matches, while Brentford climbed to 11th in the standings.
This was a performance that saw Brighton dominate the match with 24 shots at goal but were unable to get past a solid Brentford rearguard. Julio Enciso, making his first league start under manager Fabian Hurzeler, perhaps had the best performance for Brighton, though he unfortunately failed to find the back of the net. The Paraguay forward had eight shots in the first half alone, the most by any player in a Premier League game's opening 45 minutes since Luis Suárez against Aston Villa in 2013. Yet despite the best endeavors of the Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken and his defense, he struck the post but was out of luck.
Flekken has been one of the goalkeepers of the season in the Premier League and was in inspired form. The Dutchman made big saves throughout the match, and even after being forced off with a groin injury just before halftime, his influence on the game remained apparent. His replacement, goalkeeper Jonas Lössl, was not called into action as much but still kept the scoreline level.
It was a day of injuries for Brentford, with Flekken's early exit followed by a limping Ben Mee needing to be substituted late in the match. Yet, injury-hit Brentford frustrated Brighton, for whom Yoane Wissa had a goal ruled out for offside via the VAR in the first half.
The game took a controversial turn in the 75th minute when Brighton forward João Pedro appeared to swing his arm at Brentford's Yehor Yarmolyuk, an action reviewed by VAR. Referee Andy Madley initially decided not to act, but the incident had sparked debate. Brentford manager Thomas Frank was adamant Pedro should have walked for violent conduct, saying an attempt to strike must be punished even if there is no contact, but former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg explained Pedro's action could be seen as a gesture rather than an intentional strike and VAR confirmed no red card would be issued.
The match indeed entered the final quarter with both teams showing real attacking intent and some big moments, yet Brighton just could not force a breakthrough as Brentford dug deep to hold out for a hard-earned point. The match finished 0-0, which was a frustrating result, meaning Brighton stay in 10th place, while Brentford's resilience hoisted them to 11th.
Key Takeaways:
- Julio Enciso shone brightest for Brighton; yet, his eight shots-at-goal, one that even hit the post, failed to find the net.
- Injuried Mark Flekken had left Brentford so exposed, but they dug deep and managed to hold on despite being absolutely battered by injuries.
VAR controversy: One main talking point was Joao Pedro's incident with Yehor Yarmolyuk, which many believed was a straight red card by the referee.
The result adds to Brighton's recent frustrations, but Brentford will be pleased with their ability to frustrate one of the league's attacking sides, especially considering their injury crisis. Both teams will need to regroup quickly as they head into their next fixtures.
Match Stats:
- Shots: Brighton 24, Brentford 7
- Goals: Brighton 0, Brentford 0
- Possession: Brighton 66%, Brentford 34%
- Yellow Cards: Brighton 1, Brentford 2
The fact that Brighton continues to fail to capitalize on dominance in front of goal keeps question marks up, while Brentford's resilience-notably given their injury list-will be viewed as a plus for manager Thomas Frank.