Van Hecke excellent, Mitoma dismal: Brighton player ratings vs Nottingham Forest
Brighton saw their FA Cup run come to an end at the quarter final stages after a penalty shootout defeat to Nottingham Forest at the AMEX Stadium.
Fabian Hurzeler‘s side will have been desperate to avoid a repeat of their 7-0 thrashing by Nottingham Forest in the Premier League back in February.
After a goalless first half in which chances were limited for both teams, the Seagulls did at least look set to ensure they would do that.
As the game opened up after the break, Brighton survived a scare when referee Peter Bankes awarded a penalty for a foul by Karou Mitoma on Elliot Anderson, only for the decision to be overturned by VAR.
With neither side able to fashion a clear-cut opportunity from open play, the game would end goalless after 90 minutes, ensuring the game would head to extra time.
Extra time proved just as tight, though Brighton were denied by the offside flag when Joao Pedro turned home with moments remaining, after Pervis Estupinan strayed beyond the last man in the build-up.
All of that ensured the game would be decided by a penalty shootout, with neither side able to find the net after 120 minutes.
After four perfect penalties each set the shootout level at 2-2, Jack Hinshelwood saw his effort saved by Matz Sels, only for Brighton to be handed a reprieve when Neco Williams fired the next one over.
However the hosts could not take advantage of that as Diego Gomez blasted the next penalty for the hosts straight at Sels, before Nikola Milenkovic put Nottingham 3-2 up after four each.
That meant that although Lewis Dunk would score the fifth Brighton penalty, it would not be enough as Ryan Yates’ subsequent spot kick sealed a 4-3 win on penalties to take Nottingham Forest to Wembley.
| Brighton last five games | Result |
| Bournemouth (H) | Won 2-1 |
| Newcastle (A) | Won 2-1 (AET) |
| Fulham (H) | Won 2-1 |
| Man City (A) | Drew 2-2 |
| Nottingham Forest (H) | Drew 0-0 (lost 4-3 on penalties) |
Here is how Football Insider rated the performances of the Brighton squad in that FA Cup clash with Nottingham Forest.
Bart Verbruggen – 6
Verbruggen has been linked with Bayern Munich this week, and made some good saves that helped keep his team level, without being pushed too hard by the visitor’s attack.
Jack Hinshelwood – 6
Did ok from a defensive point of view, flahsed a header wide from a corner that he may feel he should have done better with, and his penalty was a week one.
Brighton centre-backs impress
Jan Paul van Hecke – 8
Van Hecke’s Brighton form has seen him nominated for the Premier League’s Player of the Month award, and backed that up with another commanding performance in the centre of defence here, which included winning plenty in the air.
Adam Webster – (off for Dunk, ’91) – 7
Has performed well in the absence of Lewis Dunk in recent weeks and did so again here, keeping the Seagulls resolute at the back and played some good balls forward.
Pervis Estupinan – 6
The left-back didn’t work the opposition defence as much as he can, and picked up a booking during the second half, but never stopped running despite a gruelling international period.
Carlos Baleba -5
Baleba is attracting transfer interest from Liverpool though other than a powerful shot that broke a camera just before half time, there wasn’t much else of note from the midfielder here.
Yasin Ayari (off for Gomez, ’80) – 6
Brighton have placed a big price tag on Yasin Ayari amid interest from elsewhere, but while there were some decent touches, this was not his most influential performance.
Georginio Rutter concern as attack struggles
Yankuba Minteh – 5
Like the majority of the rest of those who started in attack for Hurzeler’s side, Minteh failed to offer a threat in the same way he has for much of the campaign.
Georginio Rutter (off for Gruda, ’75) – 6
Was one player for Brighton who did at least show some glimpses of making something happen early on, the sight of him limping off with 15 minutes to go is a concern for Hurzeler.
Karou Mitoma (off for Adingra, ’72) – 4
An evening where the winger failed to create much for his fellow attackers, and while the reprieve for the penalty may have been correct, his sliding challenge inside the area still felt rash.
Danny Welbeck (off for Pedro, ’71) – 5
A quiet performance from the veteran centre-forward who in fairness received very little in terms of service.
Substitutes
Joao Pedro (on for Welbeck, ’71) – 6
Did try to make things happen after coming on but couldn’t work Sels in the Nottingham Forest goal, though his penalty in the shootout was superb.
Simon Adingra (on for Mitoma, ’72) – 6
Like the rest of the Brighton attack, unable to really do much with defences on top for both teams until one excellent cross in extra time that was wasted by Gomez.
Brajan Gruda (on for Rutter, ’75) – 6
On for the injured Rutter and gradually managed to grow into the game with some decent runs, before converting cool penalty with Brighton’s second of the shootout.
Diego Gomez (on for Ayayri, ’80) – 5
A mixed bag, missed a big chance at the back post early in the second half of extra time before seeing a good header brilliantly saved by Sels moments later, went for power with his penalty which meant the Forest goalkeeper only had to stand tall to keep it out.
Lewis Dunk (on for Webster, ’91) – 6
Returned from injury after Webster found himself a passenger in stoppage time, and slotted into the backline nicely after that time away, scored a calm penalty when he simply could not afford to miss.