DIRTY MOUNIE
Brighton cash in after Town star goes over the top
FOR both managers as Christmas approaches it’s not so much jingle bells as a relegation death march that rattles the eardrums.
Already for Huddersfield’s David Wagner and Brighton’s Chris Hughton the survival game is in full flow.
Yesterday their collective nerves were left shredded in the frenzied battle to beat the dreaded drop.
Hughton watched powerless as the Seagulls conceded the quickest goal so far this season in the Premier League – after just 55 seconds.
Then Wagner’s ecstasy turned to horror as striker Steve Mounie was shown a red card by Michael Oliver after implanting his studs in Yves Bissouma’s ankle.
Mounie later appeared in the directors’ box – hopefully ridden with guilt – as Brighton took advantage of the extra man to stage a fine recovery job. Wagner said: “For me, the red card wasn’t one. If I decide to give it, maybe it was on the brink, but I didn’t think it was.
“Three of these big decisions went against us. No referee is doing it on purpose but the decisions were wrong.” The ever-reliable Shane Duffy grabbed a headed equaliser deep into first-half added time.
And Romanian striker Florin Andone justified Hughton’s faith in starting him ahead of goal-machine Glenn Murray with his first goal in English football since his summer arrival from Deportivo La Coruna.
That enabled Brighton to make off with the three points. Hughton said: “We’ve certainly had better starts but our response was good.
“On the sending-off there was definitely contact but only the referee can make that decision.”
It had been the worst start imaginable for the Seagulls.
Work on your game plan all week in training, a final few rousing words in the dressing room – and then witness everything go up in smoke within a minute of the kick-off.
Philip Billing launched a long throw which was attacked by Mounie and when the flick-on fell to Bruno he sliced horribly back towards his goal and Mathias Jorgensen capitalised on the mayhem to head home.
Then in the 32nd minute came the decisive red card, Mounie chasing Bissouma and badly mistiming his challenge. A ripped sock and specks of blood endorsed Oliver’s decision, although it didn’t prevent the Mali star from being continually booed by the home crowd once he’d recovered.
Duffy struck in the final minute of four added in the first half, finishing off a short corner routine involving Solly March and Bruno to head fiercely past Jonas Lossl.
Already bemoaning Mounie’s sending-off, the Terriers claimed that Pascal Gross had pulled down Alex Pritchard inside the area and that Brighton substitute Leon Balogun should have seen red for a clumsy challenge on Erik Durm.
Brighton’s tidal wave of second-half attacks finally paid off when March provided another perfect cross for Andone to head confidently in at the near post in the 68th minute.
Hughton added: “It’s a classic No.9’s goal, getting across his defender. I’m really pleased for him because he’s had to wait for his chance.”