It’s a Bright start for Chris Hughton and his Seagulls side
GLENN Murray was reminded of just how good life can be on the coast after his double sparked memories of his first home debut for Brighton in 2008.
Then in League One, at the old Withdean Stadium against Crewe, Murray scored the first two goals of 56 during his initial stint with the Seagulls – and how boss Chris Hughton would love a repeat impact.
The 32-year-old re-signed on a year-long loan deal after spending most of last season stewing on a Premier League bench with Bournemouth, but showed a poacher’s instinct last on display at Crystal Palace.
His two second-half finishes, both converted from close-range, added to Anthony Knockaert’s 36th-minute opener and meant a flaky Nottingham Forest have conceded three goals in each of their first two games.
The last year in which Murray thrived on regular football saw him belt 30 goals in Palace’s promotion campaign – he could have scored a hat-trick if not for Stephen Henderson’s late save.
And Hughton said: “We hoped we’d get a fresh Glenn, with real enthusiasm towards getting back to playing regular football again.
“He had a tough season last season in regards to the amount of games he played, not difficult in regards to the club he was at, because Bournemouth are a super club and have a lot of options.
“It was a really good start for him. He had a great opportunity to get a hat-trick and, arguably, that was his best chance, but he scored two great goals.
“It could have been the other way around for the two strikers. Tomer (Hemed) had a great opportunity from Glenn’s cross; it would have been nice to see him get on the score sheet.”
The first half had been nip and tuck – with Forest winger Oliver Burke’s run and shot the closest either side had come – before an emotional Knockaert popped up to convert a Gaetan Bong cross on his late brother Steve’s birthday.
“As soon as I scored, I was thinking about him straight away and it made me cry because it’s not easy to lose someone in your life, but I am always trying to make him proud,” said Knockaert, whose sibling suffered a fatal heart attack seven years ago.
Save for a Damien Perquis header, Albion were rarely troubled in the second half and could have scored more as a Jiri Skalak goal was ruled out for offside while Tomer Hemed slid narrowly wide.
But Hemed teed up his strike partner with a fine header before Knockaert and substitute Sam Baldock were involved in a flowing move for Murray’s second.
The only blot on the Seagulls’ night was an ankle injury to keeper David Stockdale, but Forest boss Philippe Montanier has far more to keep him occupied – not least transfer speculation surrounding star forward Britt Assombalonga.
But Montanier stressed: “I do not worry about him (Assombalonga) leaving the club I am disappointed about the defeat, that is what is important.
“We will see what happens. For now my head is focused on this defeat.
“We started the day badly, because we lost Matt Mills and Britt Assombalonga to injury when they felt some pain in a light training session. Then we lost Thomas Lam in the warmup, prior to the game.
“But we win games together as a squad and we lose games together as a squad. Britt does not have a serious injury, but I did not want to risk him.”