Jose jumps in to give a high five to Hughton
JOSE Izquierdo ensured Brighton extended their unbeaten run to fi ve games – but Chris Hughton will believe his side had a clear chance to turn one point into three.
Albion twice fought back after falling behind, fi rst when Pascal Gross cancelled out Eric Maxim Choupo- Moting’s opening goal, and then when Izquierdo struck after Kurt Zouma had restored Stoke’s lead. But the majority in the Amex Stadium were convinced the home side should have been awarded a 39th- minute penalty when referee Lee Mason ignored claims Ryan Shawcross had brought Glenn Murray down inside the area.
The stalemate meant both sides consolidated recent progress.
And for Stoke manager Mark Hughes, it also meant his side avoided equalling the club’s worst Premier League start after 12 games. Defeat would have turned the focus on Hughes’s position once again and the manager needs no reminding of the fact that four of the fi ve clubs below his have already made changes in the dugout.
Hughes would have liked to follow Hughton’s lead in naming an unchanged team but Jack Butland’s fi nger injury sustained during an England training session meant Lee Grant deputised for the goalkeeper.
It soon became clear the home side’s threat would come from the fl anks and in particular from Izquierdo down the left. The Colombian repeatedly found space behind wing- back Mame Diouf but lacked the composure to produce the fi nal ball .
And when he cut inside after being set free by Davy Propper in the 18th minute, he placed his shot wide of the far post with Gross and Anthony Knockaert better positioned on the edge of the box.
Propper then headed straight at Grant from Knockaert’s free- kick before Brighton’s promising start was brought to an abrupt halt in the 28th minute when Choupo- Moting put Stoke ahead. There was little
HOW THEY STAND