Potter shows promise with Brighton new boys and tactical nous

Maupay and Webster look like clever buys Hendrick’s late strike rewards Burnley spirit

Brighton have made two good shopping trips to the Championship for Neal Maupay and Adam Webster and their acquisition of Graham Potter as manager from the same division is also showing promise.

Burnley’s fine 90th minute equaliser by Jeff Hendrick in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Brighton at the Amex Stadium was a blow to a Brighton side who dominated the game once Potter began displaying his talent for innovation (example – the 6ft 7in centre-back Dan Burn at left wing-back). Five points from as many games suggests another bottom-half campaign (the same is true for Burnley). But Potter’s tactical flexibility is striking and Maupay and Webster already look like clever buys.

There are shades of Harry Maguire’s upfield runs in Webster, bought for £20million from Bristol City. He was one of four centrebacks to start for Brighton. “He can play anywhere across the back,” Potter said. “He has a great personality and attitude. Courage as well. He stepped in against Man City, which isn’t the easiest environment, and he did really well today.”

Maupay scored 41 times in 95 games for Brentford and joined Brighton for a fee similar to Webster’s. A prodigy who was compared to Eden Hazard in his early days, Maupay has two in his debut season in the Premier League.

“He struggled a bit at the start of the game from the team performance but he kept going,” Potter said of Maupay, who is an upgrade on Jurgen Locadia and Florin Andone – both out on loan. “That’s what he’s about. He ran in behind, scored a good goal. He’s a good character, a good boy and he’ll improve the more he plays.”

Potter made frequent positional changes, all of which improved Brighton’s performance. Maupay, who prefers the No9 role, played wide as well to bring Glenn Murray into his favoured central position. “I have always played as a striker, central, but I need to adapt for the team, and if I need to play wide for the team, I will do it without a problem,” Maupay said.

Solly March’s versatility is another asset for Potter and he now has a chance to add more endproduct to his graft. Moving him around the pitch helps him, his manager thinks. “When he has too much time to think I’m not sure it’s the best for him. We’ve spoken about that,” Potter said. “I think he’s got talent, he’s got ability, he’s got quality – he just needs to play with a bit of freedom.

“If you look at the last two or three games, he’s played left wingback, he’s played right wing-back, he’s made an appearance as an extra midfield player, as a 10. That tells you that we think he’s a football player and can play in a lot of positions. The main thing for him is that he needs to contribute in the final third, the attacking third, more than he has.”

Hendrick’s drive at the start of added time spoke well of Burnley’s ability to grab points in games but Brighton will need to capitalise when they are in charge in home games. Potter said: “As a football coach I’ve never been one to ask for patience because I know how it is. Apart from the first 20 minutes, which was credit to Burnley, everything was really good about the game. When I say really good, we need to kill teams off or maybe get that second goal.”

Brighton have no wish to return to the Championship but have found in that next tier down players with potential and a shrewd “young” manager.