For two or three years now, it’s been standard to nod approvingly at how well-run Brighton, Brentford and Bournemouth are, and to move on. What else is there to say? It’s true, of course – these are sides who have made the most of relatively limited resources.
But there’s also an underlying assumption in the designation: that these are clubs who have no higher aspiration, that their limit is earning praise for upper mid-table finishes. This season, perhaps, offers an opportunity to change that. Other than Arsenal, every major club is undergoing significant transition.
Manchester City may have started the season with seven straight wins, but there’s every chance the punishment for their multiple breaches of Premier League regulations takes them out of the race for the top five. In that context, why shouldn’t one of those efficient smaller sides qualify for the Champions League? Brentford began the weekend in third and with, perhaps, a slight sense of frustration that they had drawn four games.
Again, they will feel they might have done rather better on Saturday; they were leading Liverpool 1-0 when Yehor Yarmolyuk foolishly flicked his head towards Jérémy Jacquet and was sent off just before half-time. The result was a 2-1 defeat and a sense of an opportunity missed. Bournemouth have not had the easiest start under Marco Rose, but Sunday’s 2-0 win over Sunderland perhaps hints at a brighter future.
Which left Brighton to carry the charge of the B clubs, which they did in emphatic style, ending a run of four derbies without success with a crushing 5-0 win. Crystal Palace had been extremely fortunate to survive a first-half battering from Nottingham Forest last week. They were thoroughly outplayed in the early stages again, and this time found themselves 3-0 down inside 10 minutes.
Perhaps the opening goal, a cross headed into his own net by Jaydee Canvot, was fortunate, but it was an error induced by the intensity of Brighton’s start. The second goal, a perfectly weighted drive from just inside the Palace half from Diego Gómez, spoke of a side playing with immense confidence. Already this season, 11 different players have scored for Brighton in the league.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
