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The Seagulls were flying after they moved within two points of Manchester City at the top of the table, having beaten Enzo Maresca’s side away from home.
But captain Lewis Dunk was keen to keep Brighton’s feet on the ground. The centre-back said, “It’s a long old season.” He hoped Brighton could win many more games but didn’t know where they’d end up.
The team stayed in Manchester for three nights between their League Cup and Premier League matches. Brighton had lost on penalties in the midweek after a 2-2 draw. Dunk missed the decisive penalty.
He and his fellow defenders made up for it in the league game, keeping their sixth clean sheet in nine matches. Brighton’s strong form meant they were firm favourites on betting sites for their home match against Brentford, their last fixture before the international break. The Mirror’s senior sports reporter wrote that given England aren’t blessed with options at centre-back, Thomas Tuchel might have been tempted to reward Dunk’s form.
Dunk knows Brighton’s history
Dunk might have been keen to avoid getting overexcited because he knows how things can change in football. He was at Brighton in the Championship when one season they were fighting for promotion under Gus Poyet and the next battling relegation under Sami Hyypia.
The defender was also there in League 1 when Brighton were playing at the Withdean, more of an athletics running track than a football stadium. Dunk helped Brighton to promotion in 2010-2011, the season after his debut. Brighton then played Championship football for five seasons before promotion to the Premier League in 2017, which began their first spell in the top flight since relegation in 1983.
Brighton for the Champions League?
Brighton have not just been in the top four – they’ve beaten some of the established elite. Although they lost to Liverpool, they won against Arsenal and Man City. Fabian Hurzeler’s team have also beaten Aston Villa and Manchester United, although the latter have become somewhat accustomed to losing against Brighton over the last decade.
Perhaps the most treasured win for Brighton supporters was a 5-0 defeat of rivals Crystal Palace, a game which featured an early goal of the season contender from Diego Gómez. The Paraguayan has become known for long range efforts but that was his best ever – a swerving strike from just inside Palace’s half. It drew comparisons to David Beckham and Wayne Rooney’s famous halfway line goals.
Brighton also beat Coventry 5-0 away from home. Although Dunk has helped his side to several clean sheets, the highlight of his season so far is arguably a spectacular goal in that game. Receiving a short pass from Chema Andrés, Dunk unleashed a free-kick-esque strike into the top corner from around thirty yards out.
Dunk might have rarely featured for England, but he will be remembered at Brighton for a long time. At 34 years old, some expected him to play more of a rotational role this season. He has largely kept his place and appears first choice in the Premier League. This could be his most memorable season yet if Brighton keep up their form, but the captain will not get carried away.
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