Brighton latest: Verbruggen says Dunk stunner already club's goal of season!

2026-09-13 · Sky-PL

Brighton have potentially landed another tricky away tie in the Carabao Cup fourth round against Manchester City, if Enzo Maresca's side get past Norwich.

Carabao Cup draw: Brighton to play Norwich/Man City

Brighton have potentially landed another tricky away tie in the Carabao Cup fourth round against Manchester City, if Enzo Maresca's side get past Norwich.

The fourth round of the competition takes place the week commencing October 26.

Carabao Cup fourth round draw confirmed

Brighton have drawn either Man City or Norwich in the Carabao Cup fourth round, which will be played on week commencing October 26.

Hurzeler: Belief and character helped Brighton beat Man Utd

Fabian Hurzeler says belief and character were key reasons why Brighton were able to come from 2-0 down to beat Man Utd 3-2 in the Carabao Cup third round on Wednesday.

The Seagulls were the first team in 50 years to go to Old Trafford and overturn a two-goal deficit to win, setting up a fourth round tie against Man City or Norwich, who play on Thursday.

Reflecting on the game, Hurzeler told Sky Sports: “We started the game really well, we conceded two easy goals and we kept to our plan. That was a positive thing.

> “At 2-0 down, you can go in one direction and say ‘OK, the game is done’ and you don't stick to the plan any more, or you have to believe in your teammates, you have to believe in yourself, you have to believe in the match plan, and you continue doing it. > > “The longer the game went, the better we were, and in the end, we won in a deserved way. > > “I think the bad thing in the beginning was we were quite nervous and we did a lot of technical mistakes. Not everyone, but some players, so that's definitely something we have to analyse and do better. > > “Afterwards, the players grew into the game and then the momentum really changed for us. > > “Overall, we were in the right structure, we had the right patterns, the execution wasn't right, that's something that will be new, but we stick to our match plan and in the end the boys get the rewards for this."

In only two competitive matches this season have Brighton failed to score more than three goals and have been dubbed the new 'goal-scoring kings' of the Premier League.

When asked about the nickname, Hurzeler replied: “I wouldn't say goal-scoring kings, but what we have is the belief.

> "When you come to places like here [Old Trafford] and you're 2-0 down, you need one thing and that's belief - belief in your team-mate, belief in your own quality, belief in how we want to play football and besides that, you also need character and the players showed real character, they stuck together. > > “They were frustrated being behind so quickly, but they faced adversity, they went again, and they came back in a very impressive way.”

FREE MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: MAN UTD 2-3 BRIGHTON

Report: Man Utd collapse from 2-0 up to exit Carabao Cup to Brighton

Verbruggen on Dunk stunner: We can hand out Brighton's goal of the season already!

Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen says the club can already award their goal of the season to Lewis Dunk following his stunning strike in their 5-0 win at Coventry.

Dunk smashed in a fantastic 30-yard strike into the top corner to add a fourth for the Seagulls, who moved into the top four of the Premier League and are the top scorers in the division this season.

Verbruggen told Sky Sports of Dunk's goal: “He has it in his locker. Every time he gets the ball from 30 metres, I step back for a shot.

> “I don’t think for us it’s a surprise, but everyone was really happy to see it come out in a game. > > “It was an unbelievable strike, and as a club, we always do a goal of the season, but they can wrap up the award, and we can do the ceremony tomorrow because it isn’t getting better than this. > > “To be fair, he’s hit a couple of nice ones in training, but that was very good!”

It was Dunk's first goal with his feet in three years.

He told Sky Sports: “I’ve got that sort of shot in my locker, but it was just sitting a bit under my feet, and I thought, just have a shot, and thankfully it went into the top corner.

> “I shocked myself. If you see from my celebration, I didn’t think I was really going to do it like that, but it was lovely.”

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler said of Dunk's goal at his post-match press conference: "I wasn't surprised because I know he has this technique and he shows it daily in training sessions.

> "He has a great right foot, but besides that, for me it's even more important that he keeps a clean sheet together with the boys on the pitch; that's his main job. > > “Today he got the reward for showing a lot of courage and personality in this moment, and of course he has a great right foot. > > "I think it was only the second time for him...normally he's doing goals with his head, but we take it.”

He added: “Of course it's a special technique; you have to hit the ball in a special place, then it gets a special spin, a special curve, and I think he showed it; it was the perfect shot in that moment.

> “But overall, it stood out that we kept a clean sheet; he was organising a lot, he was speaking, communicating, he was there when the long balls were coming, so that's, for me, the most important."

FREE MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: COVENTRY 0-5 BRIGHTON

Worth the wait?

Lewis Dunk had previously not scored with his feet since 2023 and from outside the box since 2019...

Dunk's goal of the season contender at Coventry!

Jones Knows: Away win for Brighton

There will be no panic at Coventry despite three loses to start the season - and rightly so. However, only one promoted team from 12 to have lost their first three Premier League games have managed to survive. When losing becomes a habit, it's a hard one to chuck. The 2/1 with Sky Bet about Coventry finishing bottom of the pile could become a popular bet the longer this losing streak continues.

Brighton have the highest expected goals return, most open play crosses and most big chances in the Premier League this season. The 17/20 with Sky Bet for the away win will be a popular play.

SCORE PREDICTION: 1-2

Hurzeler: Brighton upset the establishment – now we must win something

Fabian Hurzeler has made his mark at Brighton, but after two eighth-placed finishes and a summer of change, the 33-year-old believes the club can take another step with a European campaign ahead.

Hurzeler frustrated with differences in first and second half performances

> "Brighton have looked a completely different outfit in their recent first and second-half performances.Fabian Hurzeler admitted that his side lacked intensity in the first 45 minutes and that it has ultimately cost them energy to chase the game, coming back to draw 1-1 with Leeds last Saturday. > > "But the Seagulls’ boss said in his press conference earlier today that there have been honest internal reviews around the disparity in halves and that the team is ready to perform at the highest level from the very first minute against Coventry on Sunday. > > "Hurzeler is currently dealing with a host of injuries, with Jack Hinshelwood, Mats Wieffer, Yankuba Minteh and Kaoru Mitoma amongst the names unavailable until after the international break. > > "There were, however, two positive updates; both Georginio Rutter and deadline day signing Femi Azeez are available for selection for the trip to the West Midlands. > > "Yasin Ayari returned from a minor strain for the Leeds clash and put on an impressive display. Regarding ongoing talks around the Swedish international’s contract, Hurzeler described him as a “great player” and hopes to continue developing the midfielder “for a long time”. > > "The 22 year old’s current deal expires next summer, but Sky Sports News understands that the club have the option to trigger a one-year extension. > > "Will Brighton get back to winning ways against Coventry on Sunday? Frank Lampard’s side are still searching for their first points of the Premier League campaign, but that wait might continue should the “second-half” Seagulls match that intensity in the first 45 minutes."

Brighton have option on Ayari's contract

Brighton have an option to trigger a one-year extension on Yasin Ayari's contract, Sky Sports News understands.

The midfielder's current deal is due to expire next summer but there is a mechanism for the south coast club to extend it by another twelve months.

Ayari's has been linked with several other clubs, including in the Premier League, following an impressive World Cup with Sweden where he scored twice in four games.

Brighton festive fixtures announced

The Premier League's festive fixtures have been announced for this season - with 29 matches available to watch live on Sky Sports between Boxing Day and January 7.

Brighton will feature across two of them, as they visit Tottenham before hosting Bournemouth.

Brighton festive fixtures live on Sky Sports:

- Tuesday December 29: Tottenham vs Brighton, 7.30pm

- Tuesday January 5: Brighton vs Bournemouth, 7.30pm

Full festive fixture list below:

Hurzeler hopeful on Rutter and Azeez fitness ahead of Coventry

Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler is hopeful Georginio Rutter and summer signing Femi Azeez will be available for Sunday’s trip to Coventry.

Forward Rutter missed Albion’s last three games in all competitions due to a foot issue.

“He definitely should be close, he had a small setback but he was on the (training) pitch now, so hopefully he’s available for the weekend if nothing goes wrong,” Hurzeler said of Rutter at a press conference on Thursday.

Winger Azeez, who joined the Seagulls from Millwall on deadline day, is awaiting his debut after sitting out last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Leeds because of a minor hamstring problem.

“Also regarding him, I hope he will be an option,” said Hurzeler. “He will definitely train today with the squad and hopefully everything is fine and then he hopefully is an option for the weekend.”

Defender Mats Wieffer, midfielder Jack Hinshelwood, wingers Yankuba Minteh, Kaoru Mitoma and Zadok Yohanna and forwards Stefanos Tzimas and Evan Ferguson remain sidelined.

Mitoma was pictured training in the gym this week as he continues his rehabilitation from the hamstring injury he suffered in May but is unlikely to return until at least next month.

“I expect him (to be available) more after the international break,” said Hurzeler.

Analysis: Brighton’s defenders put in super-human effort

Pascal Struijk may have been disappointed not to feature against former club Leeds but in fairness, there is absolutely no spot in the Brighton defence for him to get into.

Despite being signed to replace the outgoing Jan Paul Van Hecke, Struijk had to sit and watch the centre-back pairing of Luka Vuskovic and Lewis Dunk put in a mammoth shift against his former team.

Vuskovic scored the crucial leveller for Brighton – showing the attacking prowess he demonstrated in the Bundesliga at Hamburg last season. But Dunk was arguably player of the match, and helped keep the scoreline down.

The Brighton captain was everywhere throughout – making 12 clearances, twice as many as the next-best Seagulls player. The best of the dozen came to deny Dominic Calvert-Lewin from off the line in a goal-saving challenge.

And there’s no spot for Struijk at left-back, given Olivier Boscagli’s display in that role. Brighton’s best chances came from his wand of a left boot – as he created five chances against Leeds – which was just as many as the entire Whites starters combined.

What do they feed defenders in Brighton?

The key moments from the Amex Stadium...

- 5: BIG CHANCE! Calvert-Lewin breaks through on goal but sidefoots the one-on-one wide. The offside flag goes up on the Leeds striker, but replays show it may have counted.

- 15: GOAL! Calvert-Lewin has a close-range header saved by Bart Verbruggen but Ao Tanaka pulls it back across for Bogle to tap home on the goal line.

- 23: OFF THE LINE! Calvert-Lewin thinks he has made it 2-0 when he rounds Verbruggen but Dunk clears his shot from off the goal line.

- 24: OFF THE BAR! From the resulting corner, Tanaka strikes the bar after being found unmarked at the back post.

- 27: CLOSE! Pascal Gross nearly levels for Brighton when his sliced free-kick flies just over James Trafford's bar.

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