Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Huddersfield Town 1.
BrightonBrighton & Hove Albion1HuddersfieldHuddersfield Town1
Huddersfield claimed a potentially crucial point in their battle against relegation as they drew with 10-man Brighton at the Amex Stadium in a game that saw both sides end their recent goal droughts.
The Seagulls and the Terriers are hoping to secure another season of top-flight football after they were promoted from the Championship last year and three points in this game would have gone a long way to making that a reality.
Brighton took the lead when the ball rebounded off Huddersfield goalkeeper Jonas Lossl's head after he had pushed Solly March's shot onto the post.
Huddersfield responded almost immediately as Steve Mounie pounced on Shane Duffy's terrible back pass to slot in.
The visitors' hopes of snatching victory were then boosted when Brighton midfielder Davy Propper was sent off for a late challenge on Jonathan Hogg.
However, it was the hosts who could have taken the three points at the end when Jose Izquierdo was put through on goal - but the forward was superbly denied by Lossl.
The draw means Brighton are 13th, seven points above the relegation zone, while Huddersfield are 16th and four points above 18th-placed Southampton.
Relive Saturday's Premier League action
Goal droughts ended in a crazy couple of minutes
Neither of these sides have been the Premier League entertainers in recent weeks.
Brighton had gone a month without scoring while Huddersfield were approaching seven hours since their last goal.
It was, therefore, perhaps not surprising that their respective droughts were ended in somewhat fortuitous fashion.
Lossl can perhaps count himself unfortunate for Brighton's opener as he pushed March's shot onto the post and the ball rebounded back off his head and into the net.
Huddersfield had come back only once before this season to get a result after falling behind but they were on level terms just two minutes later.
Duffy inexplicably played the ball straight to Mounie and the Terriers' top scorer kept his composure to round the keeper and slot in his ninth goal of the season.
A point earned or a missed opportunity?
Brighton are probably one win away from making sure of their Premier League status for another season and with tough games against Tottenham, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool to come, this was arguably their most winnable fixture.
However, it would still take a big turnaround in form from the bottom three to see the Seagulls slip into trouble.
Any away point is an important one in the Premier League but this was the second time in their last four games Huddersfield had failed to take advantage of their opponents going down to 10 men by snatching victory.
But the Terriers have given themselves that extra bit of breathing space and this was a considerably improved performance after disappointing displays in defeats by Crystal Palace and Newcastle.
David Wagner's side attacked with pace, created chances and finished with more shots on target - five - than they had in their previous two games combined, when they managed just two. That should give them hope ahead of upcoming home games against Watford and Everton.
Man of the match - Jonas Lossl (Huddersfield)
'It wasn't our day' - what they said
Brighton boss Chris Hughton, speaking to MOTD: "It was a game where we were not at our best. Huddersfield scored from our mistake and we had the two best chances of the game. It wasn't our day today. I thought we had started very well. Their goal gave Huddersfield the lift they needed."
On the sending off: "It is down to a referee on the day whether they want to send a player off for that challenge. You will see numerous challenges like that where there are two competitive players. At the time, I thought it was harsh."
Huddersfield boss David Wagner, speaking to MOTD: "An away point in the Premier League is a good point. It was a good performance from my side, it could have been a defeat or a win.
"The whole team showed great character today to come back in the circumstances, at this stage of the season, to come back when you are 1-0 down is good. I am absolutely happy with the performance.
"We fought until the final second. Both teams really wanted to win the game, that is what we have seen. I am still confident that more or less over the whole season we are capable of the chance to survive."
Seeing red against the Terriers - the stats
- Brighton are unbeaten in their last six home league meetings with Huddersfield (W3 D3), since a 3-2 loss in League One in April 2011.
- Huddersfield have conceded in each of their past 14 on the road in the Premier League - the longest such run in the competition this season.
- There have been more own goals scored in Premier League games involving Brighton this season than any other team (6 in total - 5 against, 1 for).
- Courtesy of Steve Mounie's 32nd minute strike, Huddersfield netted their first goal in 426 minutes of Premier League action.
- Mounie has bagged three goals in his two Premier League games against Brighton this season, 43% of his total top-flight haul this season (3/7).
- Huddersfield have seen an opponent sent off four times in the top flight this season, a figure only Burnley can better (6).
What next?
Brighton travel to rivals Crystal Palace on 14 April (15:00 BST) while Huddersfield host Watford at the same time.
Line-ups
Brighton
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Ryan
- 21Schelotto
- 22DuffyBooked at 58mins
- 5Dunk
- 3Bong
- 20March
- 6Stephens
- 24PröpperBooked at 74mins
- 19Izquierdo
- 13GroßSubstituted forKayalat 76'minutes
- 17MurraySubstituted forUlloaat 67'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Bruno
- 7Kayal
- 9Baldock
- 16Ulloa
- 18Goldson
- 25Locadia
- 26Krul
Huddersfield
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Lössl
- 33Hadergjonaj
- 25M Jorgensen
- 26Schindler
- 5Kongolo
- 22InceSubstituted forDepoitreat 90+3'minutes
- 6HoggSubstituted forBillingat 80'minutes
- 10Mooy
- 17van La ParraSubstituted forQuanerat 90'minutes
- 21Pritchard
- 24Mounie
Substitutes
- 2Smith
- 3Malone
- 8Billing
- 13Coleman
- 15Löwe
- 20Depoitre
- 23Quaner
- Referee:
- Anthony Taylor
- Attendance:
- 30,501
Match Stats
Home TeamBrightonAway TeamHuddersfield
- Possession
- Home41%
- Away59%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away5
- Corners
- Home5
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away7
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Huddersfield Town 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Collin Quaner (Huddersfield Town) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Zanka with a headed pass following a set piece situation.
Substitution
Substitution, Huddersfield Town. Laurent Depoitre replaces Tom Ince.
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Terence Kongolo (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Leonardo Ulloa (Brighton and Hove Albion).
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Attempt saved. Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Collin Quaner.
Substitution
Substitution, Huddersfield Town. Collin Quaner replaces Rajiv van La Parra.
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Attempt missed. Steve Mounie (Huddersfield Town) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Florent Hadergjonaj with a cross.
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Attempt missed. José Izquierdo (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Leonardo Ulloa with a headed pass.
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Attempt missed. Zanka (Huddersfield Town) header from the left side of the six yard box misses to the right. Assisted by Alex Pritchard with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Huddersfield Town. Conceded by Shane Duffy.
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Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. Beram Kayal tries a through ball, but José Izquierdo is caught offside.
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Attempt missed. Philip Billing (Huddersfield Town) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Rajiv van La Parra.
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Zanka (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Leonardo Ulloa (Brighton and Hove Albion).
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Attempt missed. Shane Duffy (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Solly March with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Jonas Lössl.
Substitution
Substitution, Huddersfield Town. Philip Billing replaces Jonathan Hogg.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Comments
Join the conversation
For someone who allegedly prefers watching European football, you spend a lot of time watching Town. Enjoy your hols then its back to B3ll3nd Road.
Man City will have won the title & be playing players to get to their 10 games for a medal - equals a (slight) chance of getting somat
Chelsea will be guaranteed to be 5th, no higher/lower - nowt to play for
Arsenal will be 6th (nowt to play for) & poss saving players for EL final
use yer heads
They played 49 games to earn that promotion.. they just didn’t win two penalty shoot outs !
Jonas Lossl is an outstanding goalkeeper and made two brilliant saves.
The red card for Pröpper was absolutely correct and he his studs up for a nasty challenge.
I thought we were too negative today, missed lots of chances to get the ball forward quickly/into dangerous areas, prob the nerves kicking in. we're too slow in the build up IMHO
Defo a red card, no question
Dya think BHAFC will swap Izquierdo for VLP, he's as good as VLP thinks he is
Still if they finish 17th a great achievement for the team and manager
Strange game, think we bossed the midfield and the game was mostly in the Brighton half yet our goalkeeper was man of the match. We still don't test opposition goal keepers enough.
Hope both clubs can stay up and stick it to all those pundits who had us down in August!
You have not asked anything for it - and it's worth it too!