Brighton & Hove Albion delivered a stunning performance to thrash Sheffield United 5-0 at Bramall Lane on Sunday, leaving the hosts rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table. The visitors took advantage of an early red card for Mason Holgate to score five goals without reply, with Simon Adingra netting a brace on his return from Afcon duty.
Holgate sees red as Buonanotte and Welbeck strike
The game was barely 12 minutes old when Sheffield United defender Holgate was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Ansu Fati. The referee had initially given a yellow card, but changed his decision after consulting the VAR. This was the turning point of the match, as Brighton took full control of the game from then on.
The Seagulls opened the scoring in the 19th minute, when Facundo Buonanotte curled a superb free kick into the top corner from 25 yards out. The Argentine midfielder, who joined Brighton from Malaga in January, scored his first goal for the club with a sublime strike.
Four minutes later, Brighton doubled their lead through Danny Welbeck, who tapped in from close range after a brilliant cross from Kaoru Mitoma. The former Arsenal and Manchester United striker scored his seventh goal of the season, and his third in as many games.
Robinson and Adingra add gloss to the scoreline
Sheffield United tried to regroup in the second half, but they were unable to cope with Brighton’s relentless pressure and creativity. The visitors added a third goal in the 74th minute, when Jack Robinson headed in from a corner. The defender, who spent four years at Sheffield United before joining Brighton in 2022, celebrated his first goal for his new club against his former one.
Three minutes later, Brighton made it 4-0 through Adingra, who scored with a powerful shot from the edge of the box. The Ivory Coast international, who missed the last four games due to his participation in the Afcon, where he helped his country win the title, showed no signs of fatigue as he scored his 11th goal of the campaign.
Adingra completed his double in the 84th minute, when he latched onto a through ball from Fati and chipped the ball over the advancing goalkeeper. The 22-year-old forward, who has been linked with a move to Barcelona, showed his class and composure with a clinical finish.
Brighton move up to seventh, Sheffield United stay bottom
The final whistle brought an end to a miserable afternoon for Sheffield United, who suffered their 18th defeat of the season. The Blades remain at the bottom of the table with 13 points, 14 points adrift of safety. They have won only three games all season, and have scored the fewest goals (15) and conceded the most (58) in the league.
Brighton, on the other hand, moved up to seventh place with 38 points, one point behind sixth-placed Tottenham. The Seagulls have won 10 games this season, more than they did in the whole of last season. They have also scored 37 goals, the most among the teams outside the top six. They have been praised for their attractive and attacking style of play under manager Roberto De Zerbi, who joined from Sassuolo in the summer.
This was Brighton’s biggest ever win in the Premier League, and their first ever win at Bramall Lane. They have now won four of their last five games, and are in contention for a European spot. They will face Newcastle United at home in their next game, while Sheffield United will travel to Manchester City.
