Brighton & Hove Albion won 5-0 at 10-man Sheffield United for their biggest away Premier League win.
Simon Adingra scored twice on his first appearance since assisting the two goals that won Ivory Coast the Africa Cup of Nations last weekend.
Sheff Utd played the majority of the match a man down after Mason Holgate was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Kaoru Mitoma.
The result means Brighton leapfrog Newcastle United into seventh place, while Sheff Utd remain bottom of the table, seven points from safety and having conceded 65 goals this season, the most by any team in their first 25 matches of a Premier League campaign.
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How the match unfolded
Sheff Utd's Chris Wilder made two changes from the side that won 3-1 at Luton Town, with Yasser Larouci and William Osula coming in for Rhys Norrington-Davies and Cameron Archer. Ben Brereton Diaz missed out due to a hamstring injury.
As for Brighton, head coach Roberto De Zerbi handed recalls to Bart Verbruggen and Adam Webster, along with Adingra. Jason Steele and Pervis Estupinan dropped to the bench, with Adam Lallana not in the matchday squad.
After a decent start, Sheff Utd found themselves a man down after only 13 minutes. After Holgate was initially shown a yellow card by referee Stuart Attwell for a reckless challenge on Mitoma, it was upgraded to a red card following a VAR review.
It was Holgate's third red card since the start of 2021/22, with no player being given more in that period.
Brighton went in front seven minutes later through Facundo Buonanotte, who got the final touch to take the ball over the line from close range after Lewis Dunk had headed Pascal Gross' corner across goal.
Danny Welbeck then doubled Brighton's advantage on 24 minutes, lashing the ball into the roof of the net after Wes Foderingham could only parry Mitoma's shot.
Sheff Utd had the ball in the back of the net before half-time through Ben Osborn, who had tapped in from close range following a corner, but the goal was disallowed. The goal was initially ruled out on-field for a foul on the goalkeeper. Following a VAR review it was decided there was no foul but that Osborn was in an offside position from a touch by Vinicius Souza. After Vinicius Souza’s touch the ball deflected off Buonanotte but the touch by the Brighton midfielder was deemed by the VAR as a deflection (uncontrolled action) and not deliberate play.
Brighton made it 3-0 on 75 minutes, when a cross from Mitoma was diverted into his own net by Jack Robinson. Sheff Utd have netted more own goals than any other side in the Premier League this season, with four.
Adingra then struck twice in eight minutes, his first being from an assist by Gross, who now has nine assists this season, one behind Ollie Watkins and Kieran Trippier in the race for the Castrol Playmaker award.
The win means Brighton have 38 points, nine behind fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
Club reports
Sheff Utd report | Brighton report
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 |
Newcastle
NEW
|
38 | +23 | 60 |
| 8 |
Man Utd
MUN
|
38 | -1 | 60 |
| 9 |
West Ham
WHU
|
38 | -14 | 52 |
| 10 |
Crystal Palace
CRY
|
38 | -1 | 49 |
| 11 |
Brighton
BHA
|
38 | -7 | 48 |
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 |
Nott'm Forest
NFO
|
38 | -18 | 32 |
| 18 |
Luton
LUT
|
38 | -33 | 26 |
| 19 |
Burnley
BUR
|
38 | -37 | 24 |
| 20 |
Sheffield Utd
SHU
|
38 | -69 | 16 |
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Key facts
Brighton have had 12 Premier League goals scored by teenagers this season (excl. own goals), the most by a side in a single campaign in the competition since West Brom in 2012/13 (14).
Gross created eight chances, completed 110 passes, and had a 97.3% passing accuracy. He is the first player on record (from 2003-04) to create that many chances, while also completing 100+ passes with an accuracy of over 90%.
Sheffield United have netted more own goals than any other side in the Premier League this season (4), while it’s also the most they’ve put through their own net in a campaign in the competition.