Key stats
- Danny Welbeck has scored 10 goals in the Premier League this season (one in this game), more than any other Brighton & Hove Albion player and the joint-best return of his career.
- Nottingham Forest now have a record of W1, D2, L10 when trailing at half-time in the Premier League this season.
- Brighton versus Nottingham Forest is the first Premier League match to see three goals in the opening 15 minutes since Crystal Palace versus Arsenal in December 2024.
Highlights
Analysis
Brighton fought off a late bit of pressure from Nottingham Forest to take all three points.
Match report
A lively start saw both goalkeepers worked inside the opening few minutes - firstly Bart Verbruggen who got behind Omari Hutchinson’s effort from a wide angle, before Matz Sels, on his return to the Forest team, kept out Kaoru Mitoma.
The Belgian would be beaten shortly after though as Pascal Groß’s delicate pass sat up nicely for Diego Gómez, who superbly smashed a half-volley into the far corner from an acute angle.
However, Brighton were not ahead for long as Igor Jesus got Forest up the pitch before squaring for Morgan Gibbs-White, who produced an equally impressive finish from the edge of the box to find the top corner.
The Tricky Trees shot themselves in the foot though, as Brighton retook the lead with their next attack as Jack Hinshelwood knocked the ball down for Danny Welbeck to turn and score his 10th league goal this season.
The Seagulls were dominant from there and really should have extended their advantage before HT, but Sels rushed out to smother Mitoma’s close-range effort, before Welbeck almost netted his brace with a strike from distance that eventually fizzed inches wide.
Forest have now trailed nine away league matches at the break - the joint-worst record alongside their opponents, Brighton.
The hosts continued their momentum into the second half as Mitoma tried his luck again, but shot wide at the near post after cutting inside.
Groß’s deflected free-kick was also parried by Sels, but Brighton could not extend their lead. Forest grew in confidence as a result, as Elliot Anderson curled over from the edge of the area, before Taiwo Awoniyi directed a header just wide in the closing stages.
However, the visitors could not find an equaliser as they slumped to a third successive defeat under Vítor Pereira, leaving them just two points above the drop zone as Fabian Hürzeler’s side rise to 11th place and ease any potential relegation fears of their own.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Danny Welbeck (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Post-match comments
Brighton midfielder James Milner to Sky Sports:
"We had good spells in the game. Second half, probably not our best free-flowing football but we managed the game pretty well, defended well.
"The run we have been on, we have played a lot better and lost games, so it's probably that know-how of winning games and finding a way to win, which we've managed to do the last two games.
"Amazing effort for the boys to get it over the line, amazing defending and some great goals in there as well and really pleasing to get back-to-back victories."