Is it time for remarkable Gross to rest?published at 08:57 GMT 6 November
08:57 GMT 6 November
Image source, Getty Images
Brighton fan Maz Mirzadeh is more than happy with his club's unbeaten start in the Conference League after their win away at Getafe, but he is wary about burnout for their main man, Pascal Gross.
Speaking to BBC Sport, he explained: "The win puts us unbeaten and we are the only side not to concede a goal in this competition. We seem to be struggling to have the same performance in the Premier League as we do in the Conference League but that's to be expected, we make five or six changes every game
"Honestly, how is Gross still going? The poor bloke is 35 and has started every game for us this season. He needs a rest. Seriously, I am really worried about burnout.
"Considering we have had five away games on the bounce, I am absolutely buzzing with where we are in the Premier League and Conference League."
Getafe 0-1 Brighton: What Hurzeler saidpublished at 22:29 GMT 5 November
22:29 GMT 5 November
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Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler speaking to TNT Sports: "These games in the Conference League are different. You have to beat a low block. You have to understand what the opponents are looking for in the game. Therefore, you have to always be patient in these games and I think we did it today.
"We didn't play our best game, to be fair. We had a few moments where we were quite lazy with the easy things. We didn't do the simple things on the highest level but in the end we kept a clean sheet, third clean sheet in a row in this tournament and we scored a goal and I think we deserved to win this game."
On the plan with Pascal Gross after playing 16 games in a row: "At one point we need to manage him as well, but at the moment he just keeps running. He seems to be in a good shape. Today he didn't play the full 90 minutes, also manage the energy from the players like this."
On Brighton fans getting excited about winning the competition: "They should dream, that's what I always say. We focus on work. We focus on the things we can control. They should dream and hopefully at one point we can fulfil their dream."
Follow Thursday's European games livepublished at 17:10 GMT 5 November
17:10 GMT 5 November
There are 18 games in both the Europa League and the Conference League - four of them involving Premier League teams - on Thursday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.
Kadioglu and Struijk ruled out of Getafe clashpublished at 21:48 GMT 4 November
21:48 GMT 4 November
George Booth BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Conference League game against Getafe at Estadio Coliseum (kick-off 20:00 GMT).
Hurzeler confirmed Ferdi Kadioglu, Pascal Struijk and Femi Azeez will not be available to feature in the Conference League fixture due to their respective injuries.
He added: "They're getting closer, especially Femi. Regarding Ferdy, we still have a big hope that he might be ready for Sunday. And with Pascal Struijk, we have to go day by day."
The Seagulls boss expects a "tough opponent" and said the La Liga outfit is a "team that knows how to win".
Los Azulones sit 13th in the Spanish top flight, but are currently ranked 30th in the Conference League after picking up one point from their opening three league phase games.
Hurzeler added: "It's a team that plays quite vertical, long balls, second balls, [who are] good in personal duels, and can be very intense in personal duels.
"Therefore, we expect a team that has a clear style of play combined with individual quality."
'Clean sheets win you titles'published at 11:19 GMT 4 November
11:19 GMT 4 November
Brighton suffered back-to-back defeats in the Premier League and Carabao Cup before their league fixture against Manchester City at the weekend.
However, Yasin Ayari's goal and the Seagulls' defence proved to be the difference as City were unable to find a way past Bart Verbruggen in the 1-0 victory.
Former Brighton forward Warren Aspinall, speaking on the Albion Unlimited podcast, said: "Defending starts from the front. This season they have done it brilliantly, they're pressing and hassling the opposition.
"It is a team effort, but the goalkeeper and the defenders will get all the credit.
"Winning is a habit. They have that habit of winning games, and it breeds confidence.
"It is rubbing off on each other's shoulders."
So far, Dutch goalkeeper Verbruggen has conceded seven goals and kept six clean sheets in the league.
The 24-year-old is already well on track to surpass the 10 clean sheets the Seagulls recorded last season.
"Clean sheets win you titles, not scoring loads of goals," added Aspinall.
"If you can get a goalkeeper that keeps so many clean sheets, then the keeper will save you somewhere between 16 and 18 points a season."
Boss Fabian Hurzeler will now look to take the high-flying Premier League form into the Conference League as Brighton travel to Getafe to face the La Liga side on Thursday at the Estadio Coliseum (20:00 GMT).
Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.
Listen to every Brighton game live on BBC Radio Sussex, with all the build-up and full commentary with Johnny Cantor and Warren Aspinall, and there is a full preview of all Seagulls' matches on Fridays at 18:00 in The Weekend Warm-up
🎧 The case for the defencepublished at 14:40 GMT 3 November
14:40 GMT 3 November
On the latest Albion Unlimited podcast, Johnny Cantor is joined by former Brighton players Warren Aspinall and Guy Butters as they preview the Seagulls' upcoming games against Getafe and Brentford.
Captain Lewis Dunk is also on the show as he talks about Brighton's strong defensive performance in the 1-0 win at Manchester City.
Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.
Listen to every Brighton game live on BBC Radio Sussex, with all the build-up and full commentary with Johnny Cantor and Warren Aspinall, and there is a full preview of all Seagulls' matches on Fridays at 18:00 in The Weekend Warm-up
Gossip: Seagulls monitor teenage defender Arnolinpublished at 07:31 GMT 3 November
07:31 GMT 3 November
Brighton are keeping an eye on Estoril defender Jordan Arnolin, though the Portuguese 18-year-old is also attracting interest from Barcelona. (Record via Sport Witness), external
Meanwhile, Albion goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen would jump at the chance to join Real Madrid. (Football Insider), external
'It is remarkable how Brighton are able to regenerate'published at 15:56 GMT 2 November
15:56 GMT 2 November
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The Athletic's Laurie Whitwell says Brighton's results and performances so far this season mean they look "strong" when it comes to mounting a possible title charge.
After Saturday's win at Manchester City, the Seagulls have now beaten both of last season's top two and have won five of their past six Premier League matches.
"Brighton have been brilliant to watch this season," Whitwell told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "The way they dismantled Arsenal was a thing to behold.
"They create in every game, wherever they go. Again it seemed end to end at the Etihad but Brighton put Manchester City under the cosh to begin with and were worthy of their lead.
"They are in that Leicester type of realm now where you're thinking surely not in terms of being in a title race.
"But, if they go to the Etihad and win, they've beaten Arsenal and clearly they're keeping clean sheets, then they do look strong.
"Yankuba Minteh and Karou Mitoma are not fit, and they've sold Danny Welbeck and Carlos Baleba, yet it is remarkable how they are able to regenerate and keep going."
Allison: When you are at home and top of the table, you should pick a team featuring your own strengths, not weaken it because you are worried about your opponents. Go for creativity and let the referee deal with their physicality.
Martin: A bad day and bad performances from the majority of City's players in the face of a dogged Brighton, who worked their socks off. On another day, City would have scored a hatful but ill fortune and poor finishing meant a determined Brighton won. Shoutout to Abdukodir Khusanov and Iliman Ndiaye but credit to Brighton.
Glynn: A very good defensive performance by Brighton, who offered very little up front after they scored. Too many below-par performances by City players - the exception being Elliot Anderson, who put in another strong performance.
Pete: We started better than expected but we have now lost two on the bounce - and lucky to win in midweek after being taken to penalties. We will forget how to win and Enzo Maresca will not last the season.
Brighton fans
Harry: A brilliant performance from the Seagulls. Great to get revenge for the Carabao Cup loss. We defended really well after going one up and always looked threatening on the counter. If we stay consistent, Champions League is definitely on.
Tim: Fantastic team effort. Bart Verbruggen was out of this world. Brilliant win. Hope we can carry it on all season.
Graham: Super performance. Great defensive display, and deserved revenge for the cup exit in which we were by far the better side.
Steve: Is it time for Brighton fans to start to believe? We always go with a sense of trepidation that we are flattering to deceive but surely, with 25% of season gone, we've beaten the current top two and only lost to the current fourth and fifth. Our chairman uses his analytics to put the right players in the right system, under the right manager. Could we upset the established big four or five? Could we do a Leicester?
Brighton not getting carried away by title talkpublished at 10:35 GMT 2 November
10:35 GMT 2 November
Keifer MacDonald BBC Sport journalist
Media caption,
They couldn't, could they?
That's the question football supporters up and down the country are asking themselves as Brighton continue to soar up the Premier League table.
The Seagulls sit third and are making a strong case to become the Premier League's most unlikely title challengers since Leicester City, priced at 5,000-1 by bookmakers, achieved the unthinkable in May 2016.
Brighton's steady rise since returning to the top flight in 2017 means any potential title triumph would come as less of a shock than the feat of Claudio Ranieri's fantastic Foxes.
These are results that will only strengthen the belief that something special - whether a first Premier League title or Champions League qualification - could be achieved this season.
Asked by Sky Sports whether his side could challenge for the title, Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen was keen to keep expectations in check.
"We are on game nine, so not really," he said. "We are just focusing every day on what's ahead of us and the job we have. We will continue to do that and see where it leaves us at the end of the season.
"We are happy with the way we are playing – not just the results but the way we are playing, too.
"We have to continue to develop that style and ruthlessness and we can do great things."
'We defended like animals' - Dunkpublished at 09:46 GMT 2 November
09:46 GMT 2 November
Media caption,
Brighton captain Lewis Dunk praised "the intensity, fight, togetherness and belief" of the team as the Seagulls picked up their first win over Manchester City at the Etihad on Saturday.
"It's huge," Dunk told BBC Radio Sussex. "It's a tough place to come.
"It won't go down as one of our prettiest games of football, but we dug in and fought hard.
"We scored a goal and then defended like animals right to the end."
Hit play above to listen to Dunk's full interview or find it here on BBC Sounds.
Albion goalscorer Yasin Ayari added: "Amazing team performance because to come here and win is not easy.
"We suffered, but we were resilient and in the end we leave with three points.
"It's always nice to score goals because I like to help my team win football matches.
'No huge shock, no smash and grab, no big upset'published at 09:09 GMT 2 November
09:09 GMT 2 November
John Bennett Final Score reporter
Image source, Getty Images
The biggest compliment you can pay to Brighton is that results like Saturday's historic win over Manchester City are no longer a surprise.
Yes, it was their first victory at Etihad Stadium but this was no huge shock, no smash and grab, no big upset.
Before the game it didn't take a lot of imagination to see this coming; the Premier League's top scorers against a City side struggling to keep clean sheets.
You knew Brighton were going to find the back of the net, it was just whether they had enough resilience and solidity to keep things tight at the other end. After all, they were facing opponents who had scored in each of their last 24 Premier League games.
The answer was a resounding yes. Of course there were nervy moments in a second half dominated by the home team, and keeper Bart Verbruggen made a world-class save to push an Iliman Ndiaye shot on to the woodwork but Brighton worked tirelessly for their clean sheet and deserved the three points.
So it's no surprise that they're beating the likes of City and Arsenal, which means it surely wouldn't be a big shock if they managed to stay in a title race long term?
Maybe their congested schedule is the one thing that could hold them back? Indeed, Verbruggen mentioned that post-match, saying: "We'll see what happens because we have loads of games."
But when you look at their bench on Saturday, with the quality of Georginio Rutter, Malick Yalcouye, Jack Hinshelwood and Yankuba Minteh, you can see the strength of the squad and their ability to rotate in the Thursday European games.
Title race or not though, this Brighton now have the belief they can go anywhere, against any team, at any time and come away with victories.
With their biggest points tally after nine games of a top-flight campaign, this is already a season to remember.
Analysis: Brilliant Brighton march onpublished at 18:37 GMT 31 October
18:37 GMT 31 October
Shamoon Hafez Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Brighton had never won at Manchester City in 16 previous league visits but they ended that run through an early goal and stout defending.
Yasin Ayari made amends for his penalty miss in the shootout by converting at the same end for his third league goal of an eye-catching campaign.
Fabian Hurzeler's side have been the most entertaining Premier League side in terms of goals scored this season and their 24 strikes is unmatched by any other top-flight team.
They are a very well-drilled side, with relentless pressing and the reward for their supporters to make the second long trip up from the south coast in the space of three days was a thoroughly deserved three points.
Man City 0-1 Brighton: What Hurzeler saidpublished at 17:49 GMT 31 October
17:49 GMT 31 October
Media caption,
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Really happy for everyone involved. A long journey, everyone contributed to the win. Really happy who the did the work in the shadows and we showed another good performance on the pitch. Togetherness gives us the rewards. On Wednesday we missed the luck, today we had a bit of luck but you have to deserve the luck and everyone worked hard for today.
"It was a completely defensive performance where everyone had the mindset 'I need to defend'. We would have preferred to have more of the ball but in certain moments you know when you come here you need to suffer and defend well in the box. We can talk about individual players but in the end everyone had a defensive mindset and stuck together."
On belief in squad and Bart Verbruggen providing stability: "Football is a lot about belief. You need to have players who spread that belief and Bart is a prime example of that. But they all have this belief that are capable of coming here and competing and winning these games. It's important to have this mindset and to spread it around the environment we work in and belief is key to winning these types of games.
"Coming here to [Manchester] City against one of the best teams in the league is always special. You have to be brilliant at the basics and everyone was contributing, from Tuesday when we travelled and we wanted to have a good four days and enjoy it and finish strong. Everyone can enjoy this win today."
Did you know?
Brighton have beaten Manchester City away from home in any competition for the very first time, at the 18th attempt (drawn five, lost 12).
Brighton have kept a clean sheet in six of their nine games - more than any other in the Premier League this season.
Maxim De Cuyper already has as many goal involvements in the Premier League this season (five - two goals, three assists) as in his first season in the competition in 2025-26 in 30 games (five - two goals, three assists).
Image source, Getty Images
