Areola ensures Seagulls left frustrated with only a point on day of losses
BRIGHTON 0 FULHAM 0 By Neil McLeman
ALPHONSE AREOLA made two great saves to see Brighton fail to win at home again on the day they posted losses of £67million.
Graham Potter’s side remain five points clear of 18th-placed Fulham after a second goalless draw between these two relegation candidates in six weeks.
The sides have promising English managers and a neat passing style but also shared a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal.
Fulham’s goalkeeper made saves with his legs to keep Leandro Trossard and Neal Maupay when the attackers should have scored.
Man of the match Areola also dominated his area to nullify the home side’s threat from set pieces.
Brighton have now gone 14 league games at the Amex Stadium without a victory, while Fulham are on a
dismal run of 11 games in all competitions without a win.
Before the Seagulls’ 18th game of the pandemic without a full crowd, chief executive Paul Barber reported yesterday that £25m of the losses were due to the crisis – and selling stars would be a solution if the club does return to the Championship after four years in the top flight.
Scott Parker wisely insisted in the build-up that last night’s game and Saturday’s visit to the Hawthorns were not the “be-all and end-all” of their first season back in the Premier League – and they still have a game in hand on Brighton.
Trossard spurned his golden opportunity after only 15 minutes. Joel Veltman released Maupay and his ball found the Belgian 10 yards out, but his shot lacked conviction.
Fulham’s best chances of a dire first half were a long-range effort from Ola Aina and a shot wide from Ivan Cavaleiro.
Brighton dominated second-half possession without reward.
Maupay had two chances to score in rare highlights after the break. Alexis Mac Allister flicked on a quickly-taken free kick but the former Brentford striker shot over from the edge of the box after 70 minutes.
And after a fine flowing move, Areola saved from his fellow Frenchman after a low Veltman cross – while Aina blocked Solly March’s follow-up shot.
Fulham almost nicked it in the final seconds, but Seagulls captain Dunk cleared off the line from Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
BRIGHTON (3-4-2-1): Sanchez 6; White 6, Dunk 7, Webster 6; Veltman 7, Bissouma 6, Gross 7, March 6; Trossard 5, Mac Allister 6 (Propper 83); Maupay 6.
FULHAM (3-5-2): Areola 8; Aina 7, Tosin 7, Anderson 7; Tete 6 (Bryan 78), Loftus-Cheek 5, Reed 5 (Lemina 66 6), Zambo Anguissa 5, Decordova-Reid 6; Cavaleiro 6 (Mitrovic 78), Lookman 6.