Hurzeler delighted by Brighton ´togetherness´ in battling win

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler was in fighting mode at full-time as he praised the Seagulls’ “togetherness” in their 2-1 win away at Bournemouth.

Hurzeler’s charges signed off for the international break with a 2-1 home victory over defending champions Manchester City, and they mirrored the scoreline at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday thanks to Joao Pedro and Kaoru Mitoma.

Despite his expansive and high-wire tactical approach receiving plenty of praise so far this season, it was Brighton’s mental strength that caught the eye late on, after being reduced to ten players in the 59th minute through Carlos Baleba’s red card.

It set up a nervy finale for the visitors, which included a 93rd-minute consolation goal from David Brooks and Antoine Semenyo smacking the bar, but the grit to get the result over the line pleased the Brighton manager.

“We have to see the performance from different viewpoints,” he told Sky Sports.

Wait until the end… pic.twitter.com/EqOxUi4dd0

— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) November 23, 2024

“From one side of things, it was not the best football game from ourselves, but it was a good game to prove our togetherness, to show we can suffer together and defend together – that’s why I’m proud of my team.

“The other side is that we can play better football. In some moments, we were lucky, in some moments, Bournemouth were better. Of course, the red card changes the game for me. That’s why I am proud. We can play better football.

“We also had really good moments, we tried to play our from the back even when the pressure was really high. That’s why I was pleased with some moments, but not with the whole game.”

Hurzeler was also left frustrated by Stuart Attwell’s decision to dismiss Baleba for a second yellow card with the visitors 2-0 in front.

“It’s a clear thing. It can’t be a yellow card the second one, never ever,” he added. “Hopefully the referee will look at this and make a decision, and they take back the yellow card, because honestly, that’s never a yellow card.”

Victory moves Brighton up to fifth in the Premier League table – their highest position since mid-October – with struggling Southampton next up for Hurzeler’s side.