Exclusive: Brighton to be delighted despite Mark O’Mahony controversy v Tottenham
Fabian Hurzeler and his backroom staff will see the positive side after Brighton gem Mark O’Mahony avoided a sending off, according to Keith Hackett.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the academy product showed positive aggression during Reading’s 2-0 defeat to Tottenham on Saturday, 19 July.
On loan at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, the 20-year-old striker made his first appearances for the Royals, having spent last season with Portsmouth, where he scored three goals in 13 matches.
It could have been a very short cameo for the Republic of Ireland youth international after a red-card challenge on Spurs’ Pedro Porro, but he only picked up a caution in the friendly fixture.
Brighton gem avoids sending off against Tottenham
O’Mahony has made just four first-team appearances back at the Amex Stadium, with Danny Welbeck and Joao Pedro keeping the player out of the lineup over the last two seasons.
Of course, the latter striker has joined Chelsea on a £60million deal [Sky Sports], leaving the Seagulls with a vacant spot, which could be filled by Evan Ferguson or Stefanos Tzimas.
Solly March, Lewis Dunk, and Jack Hinshelwood are all examples of players to have come through the club’s academy, and Hackett believes Brighton will be seeing good signs in O’Mahony as well.
While the incident against Thomas Frank‘s side could have earned him a red card early in his season-long loan, he will be able to learn from the situation and improve after talks with the coaching staff, and Hackett suggests the “aggression” will please his parent club.
Fabian Hurzeler to keep an eye on Mark O’Mahony
The former Premier League referee spoke exclusively to Football Insider about Brighton’s potential view, saying: “Most clubs will say, ‘The referee hasn’t applied a sanction, so, therefore, good on him’. Let’s be realistic.
“They’ll always see the positive signs, with the player showing aggression. A player who commits that kind of challenge needs to be advised by the coaching staff of whichever club he’s operating at.
“That challenge should have received a red card. Hopefully then, he avoids doing the same in the future.”
The Seagulls are up against La Liga side Las Palmas next on Monday, 21 July, before facing Southampton and Wolfsburg ahead of the Premier League campaign kicking off.