Match ends, Stoke City 1, Brighton and Hove Albion 1.
StokeStoke City1BrightonBrighton & Hove Albion1
Stoke manager Paul Lambert said he would not blame individuals after his side had a late penalty saved in a draw with Brighton at the Bet365 Stadium.
The relegation-threatened Potters were awarded a 90th-minute spot-kick when referee Bobby Madley judged Jese Rodriguez had been fouled by Dale Stephens.
Charlie Adam picked up the ball, prompting a frustrated Jese to complain about not being allowed to take it, and Adam's effort was saved by Brighton keeper Mat Ryan.
Seagulls defender Lewis Dunk reacted fastest to push the loose ball behind for a corner.
Lambert, whose side had cancelled out Jose Izquierdo's opener via a Xherdan Shaqiri strike in the 68th minute, said: "I'm devastated for the players.
"When you get a penalty in the last minute it's a big opportunity to win the game. But the penalty's a lottery, a hit or a miss.
"I would be more concerned if everybody shied away from a penalty and didn't want to take it.
"That's when the problems arise. But they wanted to take it. They wanted to win the game, which is normal, but they also want to score.
"Who is to say Jese would score? Nobody knows.
"I would never blame anybody. It is not a blame culture. We win as a team and we lose as a team.
"Charlie felt good because he scored the last one. He scored against Coventry [in the FA Cup last month] and has a great left foot.
"If you ask Charlie to put a ball anywhere he'll do it. It's just in that moment, the goalkeeper has made a save."
Brighton deservedly led a game in which they attacked with more fluidity, typified by Izquierdo's superb first-half opener after quick passing between him and Stephens.
But Shaqiri's sixth goal of the season sparked a fightback for Lambert's men, who also saw Mame Biram Diouf's header cleared off the line by Anthony Knockaert in added time.
The draw is not enough to move Stoke out of the bottom three and they remain 18th, with the Seagulls staying 13th.
Stoke must sharpen their attack
From the panic of trailing in a game against another bottom-half club, to the relief of levelling, the elation of a late penalty and finally despair at missing it.
Stoke and Lambert went through the emotional wringer during a game in which their faltering attack had them largely second best.
The Potters had more possession but missed a big opportunity to move out of the bottom three and go level on points with the Seagulls when that last-gasp penalty was saved.
The late flurry in added time came during a contest when Stoke's front three of Shaqiri, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Diouf only touched the ball in Brighton's area a combined six times. They struggled badly to create good chances and work Ryan.
But it was not all negative; January signing Badou Ndiaye had another impressive game after his assured debut at Bournemouth, making more successful tackles and winning back possession more times than any team-mate.
Before that late onslaught, Shaqiri's goal had been their only shot on target.
Hard life on the road but Seagulls still impress
Brighton have found life on the road tough during their first season in the Premier League.
They are now without an away league win in eight games since November's 1-0 triumph at Swansea.
The Seagulls have still only scored seven away goals this season, the joint fewest in the division with bottom club West Brom.
But statistics don't always tell the full story when it comes to performances. Hughton's side were highly impressive against Stoke and in Izquierdo they have one of the top flight's most in-form midfielders.
His sumptuous goal, after bursting forward and exchanging clever passes with Solly March and Stephens, comes after an equally eye-catching strike in the win against West Ham last weekend.
He could have had a hat-trick today but for the instincts of Butland, and his pace troubled Stoke throughout.
Brighton host Swansea City next in the league who are one point behind them in 15th.
Shaqiri shines once again - the stats
- Shaqiri has scored in back-to-back Premier League games for the first time in his career.
- Shaqiri has had a hand in each of Stoke's past three Premier League goals, scoring twice and assisting once.
- Stoke are unbeaten in their past 17 home games against Brighton in all competitions (W9 D8 L0) since losing 1-0 in a second tier match in September 1961.
- Brighton are unbeaten in three successive league games for the first time since November (W1 D2).
- The Potters have missed their past three penalties in the Premier League, with each taken by a different player - Charlie Adam, Saido Berahino and Marko Arnautovic.
- Brighton have scored in consecutive Premier League away games for the first time since November, after a run of six games without a goal on the road.
- Izquierdo has been directly involved in four of Brighton's past seven Premier League goals (two goals, two assists).
Man of the match - Jose Izquierdo (Brighton)
'We were a different side in the second half' - what they said
Stoke City manager Paul Lambert speaking to MOTD: "It's really disappointing not to come away with the win. In the second half we were excellent, and after getting the penalty, it's especially tough to take.
"I changed the system at half time and it helped us out, it looked like we were a different side in that second half. Brighton are a difficult team to play against but it's still a good point for us."
Brighton manager Chris Hughton speaking to MOTD: "At this moment we feel like it's probably two points dropped, against a good Stoke side, who are in good form. I thought we had the better chances, but in a player like Xherdan Shaqiri, there's always that quality to get a goal."
On the penalty decision: "I certainly felt it was not a penalty, but it was a great save by Mat Ryan. It was incredibly soft, you've got two players holding each other, if anything my player is pushing him away and the Stoke lad has gone down very easily. I think it's very, very harsh.
"But saying that, both the save and the tackle were excellent, and we needed Mat Ryan again to make a save straight after from the corner. If you ever need a reason for players following up a penalty, Lewis Dunk has showed why with that tackle."
What's next?
Stoke travel to Leicester City on Saturday, 24 February (12:30 GMT), while Brighton host Coventry City in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday, 17 February.
Line-ups
Stoke
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Butland
- 2Bauer
- 17Shawcross
- 6Zouma
- 3Pieters
- 4Allen
- 24FletcherSubstituted forBerahinoat 45'minutes
- 27B NdiayeSubstituted forAdamat 79'minutes
- 22Shaqiri
- 10Choupo-MotingSubstituted forRodríguez Ruizat 62'minutes
- 18Diouf
Substitutes
- 8Johnson
- 9Berahino
- 11Rodríguez Ruiz
- 16Adam
- 20Cameron
- 32Sobhi
- 33Grant
Brighton
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Ryan
- 21Schelotto
- 22Duffy
- 5Dunk
- 3Bong
- 20MarchSubstituted forKnockaertat 86'minutes
- 6Stephens
- 24Pröpper
- 19Izquierdo
- 13GroßSubstituted forKayalat 79'minutes
- 17MurraySubstituted forUlloaat 71'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Bruno
- 7Kayal
- 11Knockaert
- 16Ulloa
- 18Goldson
- 25Locadia
- 26Krul
- Referee:
- Robert Madley
- Attendance:
- 29,876
Match Stats
Home TeamStokeAway TeamBrighton
- Possession
- Home57%
- Away43%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away6
- Corners
- Home7
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away10
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Stoke City 1, Brighton and Hove Albion 1.
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Foul by Joe Allen (Stoke City).
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Beram Kayal (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt blocked. Mame Biram Diouf (Stoke City) header from the right side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Charlie Adam with a cross.
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Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Dale Stephens.
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Attempt blocked. Kurt Zouma (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Lewis Dunk.
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Penalty saved! Charlie Adam (Stoke City) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, left footed shot saved in the bottom left corner.
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Penalty Stoke City. Jesé draws a foul in the penalty area.
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Penalty conceded by Dale Stephens (Brighton and Hove Albion) after a foul in the penalty area.
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Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. José Izquierdo tries a through ball, but Leonardo Ulloa is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Anthony Knockaert replaces Solly March.
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Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Jack Butland.
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Attempt saved. José Izquierdo (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Leonardo Ulloa.
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Charlie Adam (Stoke City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Davy Pröpper (Brighton and Hove Albion).
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Foul by Jesé (Stoke City).
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Dale Stephens (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt blocked. Jesé (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Comments
Join the conversation
not referenced at all on MOTD -
I can't remember a penalty being taken for years with only 2 players in the box
what is the point of any sport if the rules are just ignored?
Garth Crooks said a similar thing about Mario Lemina playing at Southampton last week. He went on to say Lemina should be playing for a 'proper outfit' like Arsenal.
Believe it or not, football actually exists outside the 'bigger clubs' and not all players are obsessed with playing at the top of the Prem.
9 hours ago
"4 illegal players in the box when the pen was taken, "- Why didn't the police do something about it?