Neal Maupay
Neal Maupay has insisted his team mates in Brighton to be pleased with their efforts, citing the problems Sheffield United have caused most teams this season.
Neal Maupay said “Not too many have coped like we did today. We showed great battling qualities and that is what we will need for the rest of the season. Our quality in possession was not that good. They were better than us in that area so we had to rethink. The difference was that we realised we had to change our ambitions.”
Neal Maupay was a reported Blades target in the summer. However, he signed for Brighton, with United moving to bring in Oli McBurnie instead.
Brighton Albion’s head coach Graham Potter could go home feeling his strategy for a unique Premier League test paid off to a large extent.
Graham Potter said: “I have had a decent career so far and you don’t get that by just doing one thing. If we had come here with ten more points, then maybe the approach is different. The reality of it is that is not where we are at today. Then you have to say ‘What’s the best way for us with the moment we are in? I work with the guys every day and you sense where they are at. Of course, it will be a different game with Crystal Palace at home. It was a different game with Watford at home. We had 67% possession, so you have got a different problem there. You have got to break them down, you have got to have players on the pitch who can score a goal. That is the beauty of the Premier League. Every test is different and we have to be ready for that.There are lots of thoughts when you play a game but you have to respect the opposition, respect the environment, respect how they play and then work out the best way to give yourself a chance.We still played with Yves Bissouma, Aaron Mooy, Davy Propper, Neal Maupay in terms of trying to play.
Potter pointed out he took his Swansea side to Bramall Lane on the opening day of last season and played a different way as they won 2-1. His opposite number Wilder spoke about “a change of approach from Brighton”.
Graham Potter is ready for some big selection decisions as he prepares his Brighton side to face Crystal Palace.
Graham Potter said “I am pretty sure your forums and message boards will have an opinion on who should play, especially after the event. Everybody is really wise after the event. I have got 24 players and there are not too many who don’t think they shouldn’t play. We have to find a right way to find that balance. But I am pretty sure we will need everybody and everybody has to be ready to play. We have got a lot of players who probably expect to play or would like to play or think they should play.”
The Seagulls can take a big step towards safety by beating their old rivals at the Amex on Saturday. Potter will face some intriguing selection posers after his plan to take some reward from hostile Bramall Lane paid off.
While Graham Potter was happy with a point that edged his side four points clear of the relegation zone, he saw Brighton’s winless run extended to seven league games.
Graham Potter said “It’s about points and getting something from the game, so I’m pleased about that, but there are aspects I’d like to improve. We probably played better at home against them and lost 1-0. We’ve had a lot of games like that this season where we’ve played better and not come away with something. So we need to balance the two and maybe have a bit more quality about us if we are going to go and wins game. Sheffield United make it very difficult in a hostile ground so we are proud of the effort of the players.”
Albion dug in and battled hard at Bramall Lane on Saturday as they fought back from a goal down to earn a 1-1 draw with Sheffield United.
Graham Potter believes Brighton And Hove Albion are probably at least ten points from securing safety. The seagulls are still chasing first win of the 2020 calendar year.
Graham Potter said “I don’t worry myself about that actual number. They got 36 last year and I think we will need more than that. That would be my guess. But we have just got to focus on the next game, try to win and move on.”
Albion stayed up with 36 points last term, which was two more than 18th-placed Cardiff City.
