ALL THINGS BRIGHTON BEAUTIFUL
ThE slogan ‘ All Together Now’ pulsed around the Amex’s electronic advertising boards.
Brighton were promoting their season-ticket renewals but this is a motto which has long been engrained in the club’s fabric.
Chris hughton’s team came out to a rousing blast of Sussex by the
Sea and departed to a joyous chorus of ‘We Are Staying Up’.
In between, those in blue-andwhite stripes proved why this resurgent club have every right to feel pleased with themselves.
The contrast to their illustrious if troubled visitors was stark.
Brighton rocked; a happy place to be with a fierce bond of unity and a pleasing balance to an evolving team in their first campaign back in the top flight.
In defence, they are brave and prepared to scrap. Centre halves Shane Duffy and Lewis Dunk do their jobs with little care for aesthetics, protected by Dale Stephens in midfield and with an efficient and unfussy goalkeeper.
They have always been industrious and organised but have injected more pace and a better tempo since the season started. There is speed and quality out wide and the vision and imagination of Pascal Gross, who reads the game expertly from his position behind the central striker.
Up front, perhaps most crucially, is a centre forward in a rich vein of form. By signing Jurgen Locadia and Leonardo Ulloa in January, Brighton have driven Glenn Murray to new heights — he has eight goals in 10 games this year. ‘ It’s down to my supply line,’ said Murray, with modesty. ‘ It’s the people who feed me, and Gross put in another fantastic cross. It does not matter what league you are in, the goalposts don’t move.’ Competition has helped others, too. Anthony Knockaert, pumped up on the emotion of injustice after a shoulder barge by Sead Kolasinac on Ezequiel Schelotto, was furious to be replaced. he kicked and grumbled his way to the bench, threw his tracksuit top aside and kicked the seats but Solly March came on and played with a cool head. hughton ( left) smiled his approval and said: ‘I’d feel exactly the same way. It’s understandable. he’s a professional player who is doing a great job for us.’ The manager’s instinct was correct, his team held on for what he described as ‘a big win’ against one of the game’s traditional elite. ‘That will do us the world of good,’ said hughton. ‘We’ve been on the edge all season and we’re probably hitting our best form at the right stage of the season.
‘Because it’s Arsenal, it’s more than three points and I thought we were the better team.’
Victory took Brighton on to 34 points, two wins from the fabled target of 40. This triggered the sense of jubilation at the final whistle. Players hugged each other and punched the air as supporters savoured this sense of belonging and the belief they can survive in the Premier League.
‘ It’s very comforting,’ said hughton. ‘It’s relieved a bit of pressure. It’s a nice position to be in. hopefully it will create some confidence.
‘Can we get more points? This group are working that hard, giving themselves every chance.’
They are all together now. Never mind the hashtags, they have been for some time.