It’s a Knockaert as Anthony stars!
ANTHONY KNOCKAERT continued his flying start to life in Brighton on Friday night, leaving manager Chris Hughton to offer his sympathy to any defenders tasked with shackling the Frenchman.
Knockaert joined the Seagulls from Belgian club Standard Liege last month and set up both goals in a 2-1 win over Huddersfield on his home debut two weeks later.
And he returned to the Amex to haunt Brentford, opening the scoring before Tomer Hemed and the impressive Jamie Murphy wrapped up a convincing victory.
The result came as a blow to Brentford’s play-off hopes while Brighton are well and truly back to their best, collecting three wins on the bounce to shake off lingering frustration from a worrying slump over Christmas and New Year.
“It is difficult when someone like Anthony is on form because he can go either way,” said Hughton. “He is a left-footed player who doesn’t always play very wide and when he comes into those little holes he can become very difficult to pick up.
“He’s a winger, and wingers can be a little bit up and down – it’s the nature of the position – but he has settled in very well for us.”
Murphy was on the receiving end of some praise of his own – though Hughton admits he could learn a thing or two from Knockaert’s approach to wide play.
“Jamie works very hard,” said the manager. “He is an old-style winger, I suppose, and sometimes he has got to be a little bit more selfish, coming inside where he has perhaps got to look to score a few more goals.
“What he wants to do is provide goals for others but sometimes he can just be a little more selfish.”
Knockaert poked wide from close range after just 90 seconds and saw an effort deflected wide shortly after, but it was Brentford who came closest to scoring in the opening ten minutes, David Stockdale diving to his left to deny Alan Judge.
Harlee Dean deflected a Bruno effort onto the bar after 25 minutes but the breakthrough arrived shortly afterwards when Murphy found Knockaert, who switched onto his favoured left foot and fired a low strike inside the far post.
Hemed hit the side-netting before Lasse Vibe failed to convert Judge’s corner, but Brighton did double the lead shortly before the break when Hemed headed home a cross from Beram Kayal.
Brighton threatened again after the interval, Murphy firing over the crossbar after good work from substitute James Wilson, before the on-loan Manchester United striker crossed for Knockaert to do the same.
John Swift and Sergi Canos each threatened to pull one back for the Bees but it was the home side who had the final say, Murphy coolly slotting home in stoppage time.
“At 1-0 down at half-time I would have fancied a better reaction but we switched off,” said Brentford boss Dean Smith.
“They took a quick free-kick, we didn’t stop the cross and we didn’t deal with the bodies in the box.
“But these lads don’t give up. Our movement was better but we have got to be more potent with the ball and possession.
“We’re a young team but I’d still expect us to come here and be more competitive than we were.
“We need to stop giving silly goals away and if we do that, we will be more of a threat and compete against the Brightons of this league.”