Brighton & Hove Albion 0-0 Brentford: Solly Mart returns after long absence as Garos and Bees play out goalless draw

Brighton and Brentford were held to a goalless draw at the Amex Stadium on Friday night.

The home side started the game brightly and on the front foot, with Julio Enciso hitting the post with a fine strike after just five minutes.

Brentford burst forward in a rare attack with 15 minutes on the clock and had the ball in the back of the net through Yoan Wisha, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a brief VAR review.

Brighton continued to press forward in search of a first-half goal, firing 15 shots in the opening 45 minutes, forcing Mark Flecken to make six saves before being substituted through injury.

The visitors started the second half in much better fashion than the first, taking the ball more and putting pressure on the Brighton defence, but without really testing Bart Verbruggen.

Both sides pressed forward in a match that became increasingly open and frantic but without creating many clear-cut chances. Both teams had plenty of counter attacks but were often guilty of overplaying or making the wrong decision at the last minute.

Solly March returned to Premier League action after 433 days on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury in October 2023, coming on for the final minutes to rapturous applause from the Brighton crowd.

The match ended goalless, with just one place in the Premier League table and two points separating Brighton in 10th with 26 points and Brentford in 11th with 24 points.

It wasn’t for a lack of effort on Fabian Hurzeler’s part, but Brighton’s winless run extended to six games tonight, with Albion picking up their fourth draw during that run and their eighth draw overall this season – the most common of any team in the competition.

A lack of edge in the final third has cost them during this run and tonight was more of the same. They managed 24 shots (seven on goal) and could have recorded more, but for overproduction on many occasions. This winless run has now seen Brighton drop points to the likes of Southampton (1-1), Leicester City (2-2), West Ham (1-1) and now Brentford (0-0) , all teams currently sitting in the bottom half of the table.

It doesn’t get any easier for Hurzeler’s side either, with a trip to Aston Villa next before hosting Arsenal at the Amex.

It has to be a special performance to win man of the match despite playing just 36 minutes, but that’s exactly what it was from Brentford’s Mark Flekken!

The Bees keeper made six saves in the first half, with four of them coming from shots inside the area. His quick reflexes allowed him to make an excellent save after the ball quickly changed direction after an awkward deflection.

He will be disappointed to leave the field injured, but he more than played his part at Brentford to keep a clean sheet.

Brighton: Verbruggen 7, Veltman 7, Van Hecke 7, Dunk 7, Estupinan 7, O’Riley 7, Baleba 7, Gruda 8, Enciso 7, Mitoma 7, Pedro 7

Subs: Adingra 6, Ayari 6, Minteh 6, Rutter 6, March 6

Brentford: Flekken 8, Lewis-Potter 6, Mee 6, Collins 7, Roerslev 7, Norgaard 6, Janelt 7, Schade 6, Damsgaard 7, Mbeumo 6, Wissa 6

Subs: Valdimarsson 7, Yarmoliuk 7, Ji-Soo 6

9′ ENCISO OFF POST – Julio Enciso hits the post with an excellent effort. The keeper had no chance there.

14′ GOAL! BRIGHTON 0-1 BRADFORD (WARNING) Brentford break fast and make it 1-0 through Wissa, but will it count?! The flag is not up but it is very, very tight. Wissa got a fantastic first touch before passing Verbruggen.

14′ NO GOAL! OFFSIDE! – As we suspect, Yoane Wissa was offside when he received the ball and this goal will not count. Remains 0-0 at Amex.

24′ VERY CLOSE TO 1-0! – Matt O’Reilly makes a wonderful burst forward into the box before launching an effort at goal which Flecken quickly gets down to save.

• Brentford’s Mark Flecken made six saves before having to be substituted in the 36th minute through injury. Among goalkeepers who have played 45 minutes or less, this is the most saves (since 2003-04) in a Premier League match.