Brighton 4-0 Kauno Zalgiris: What Hurzeler saidpublished at 22:49 BST 15 October
22:49 BST 15 October
Fabian Hurzeler spoke to BBC Radio Sussex after Brighton's victory against Kauno Zalgiris: "It was a good result and a good game. It is always difficult to break a low block but we were patient in the right moments and we scored very good goals.
"It's important for players who are not playing regularly to step up and use their opportunity. We know we can rely on everyone so it was quite a positive evening.
"Overall it was a good team performance. Everyone stepped up and that is important for us. We have that kind of togetherness and It was important to see today."
Brighton 4-0 Kauno Zalgiris: What the players saidpublished at 22:39 BST 15 October
22:39 BST 15 October
Image source, Getty Images
Jack Hinshelwood spoke to TNT Sports after Brighton's victory against Kauno Zalgiris: "It's nice to just be back with the boys. They have been on such a good run, and I have really missed it out there, so to be back out there tonight, fighting for this badge which I love doing is the main thing tonight."
On the performance: "Fair play to Kauno Zalgiris, they came and made it difficult for us. We had to stay patient and I think we did that well. Georginio [Rutter] with a great goal and then to set me up as well he done really well. I think it was a really professional performance, we had to work for it, but it was a job well done today."
On what this team can go on to achieve this season: "I think the manager spoke about it, we just want to keep on improving. What's happened in the past is gone now and we have to look to the future, to keep getting better and developing. It's starts again Sunday with another massive game.
Striker Georginio also spoke to TNT Sports: "I'm very happy to have two goals today, but more importantly is the three points. We are very happy to start the competition like this, we have a good side, we are in good shape at the moment, so we have to keep going."
On being one of the highest scoring teams in the Premier League: "It's not every time, one player. We are a good team, everybody scores and everybody assists so I think the atmosphere of the team at the moment is very good, so we are confident and in good shape."
On the difficulty of defensively minded teams: "I think we have to be mature. Today was about discipline, and I think we played very good, every focused. I don't think we made any mistakes, so that is the most important thing. We took our time, scored four goals and kept a clean sheet. So we can't do anything better."
Listen to more match reaction from Georginio Rutter below or on BBC Sounds here
Media caption,
Analysis: An easy night for Hurzeler's entertaining Brightonpublished at 22:30 BST 15 October
22:30 BST 15 October
Michael Emons BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
For Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, it was the perfect evening.
The Lithuanian visitors showed their intent early on by defending deep, camped on the edge of their penalty area in a low block, looking to frustrate the hosts.
Lewis Dunk had scored a stunning 35-yard strike in the 5-0 league win against Coventry, later named as the Premier League goal of the month for September, and the Brighton skipper was unlucky to see a long-range attempt just go over.
But the breakthrough always looked like it would come soon. Hinshelwood had a header tipped over, before Rutter got his first goal of the season to end Zalgiris' resistance.
From then on it was easy for a Brighton side that ended up with nearly 80% of possession.
Jack Hinshelwood, Georginio Rutter again and Matt O'Riley added further goals, with the latter denied another by a fine save from away goalkeeper Tomas Svedkauskas.
For Brighton it continues a superb season in only their second ever continental campaign.
Domestically, they have already beaten Aston Villa 4-0 and embarrassed reigning champions Arsenal 3-0 in the Premier League, and came back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Old Trafford and knock Manchester United out of the Carabao Cup.
Hurzeler's side have now scored 29 goals in 10 matches in all competitions and they will fancy their chances of a lengthy run in the Conference League.
Follow Thursday's European games livepublished at 16:52 BST 15 October
16:52 BST 15 October
There are 18 games in both the Europa League and the Conference League on Thursday - with Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Sunderland involved in the former, and Brighton the latter - and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.
'We could do something special this season' - Rutterpublished at 09:45 BST 15 October
09:45 BST 15 October
Image source, Getty Images
Brighton centre-forward Georginio Rutter says his team-mates are "feeling pretty confident" after racking up a five-game unbeaten streak, but also "staying very humble" in the build-up to their first Conference League fixture of the season.
Fabian Hurzeler's side, who are in the midst of a run of six games in 17 days, host Lithuanian top-flight side Kauno Zalgiris at Amex Stadium on Thursday (kick-off 20:00 BST).
When asked about the mood in camp, Rutter replied: "When you win like this, it is always good for the team spirit.
"You do also have to be careful, though, because sometimes you can get carried away and start losing your focus when you're on a winning run like this, so we have to stay focused and conscientious.
"I play football to win trophies and we have the opportunity to do that this season, so why wouldn't we try? We're going to give everything we have, but it is important that we take it game by game.
"We need to keep being consistent like we are now. If we stay very humble but pretty confident at the same time, we can do something very good."
On head coach Fabian Hurzeler asking for a "tough and dirty" atmosphere against Kauno Zalgiris, who have never played against English opposition, Rutter replied: "I've been waiting for a European game for a long time since I arrived here so I hope it's going to be a very good atmosphere.
"We need the fans behind us. We have given them a lot this year but they have given us a lot back too, so hopefully the big spirit will match on both sides.
"It will be a bit like a cup game. We will have to be careful about their strengths while also knowing our own strengths."
Gossip: Hurzeler standout candidate for Man Utdpublished at 07:23 BST 15 October
07:23 BST 15 October
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler is the standout candidate among current Premier League head coaches should Manchester United's board choose to move on from Michael Carrick. (Sun), external
Hurzeler on team news, stadium 'fortress' and European football being 'different'published at 15:43 BST 14 October
15:43 BST 14 October
Millie Sian BBC Sport journalist
Media caption,
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Conference League game against Kauno Zalgiris at Amex Stadium (kick-off 20:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Brighton were "100% convinced" that Pascal Struijk shouldn't have been shown a red card against Sunderland last time out, so the decision to overturn it is a "positive outcome".
The centre-back won't be available on Thursday night however, with Hurzeler explaining: "We always try to look after the health of our players. He had some issues in the international break, played 60 minutes against Sunderland, and is being managed now." It is hoped he will be fit to face Crystal Palace.
Jack Hinshelwood is back in contention after recovering from an ankle injury and completing a full week of first-team training.
Mats Wieffer, who has been sidelined with a knee injury since August, is "getting closer" to full fitness but this game comes too soon.
On Brighton being thrown into a run of six games in 17 days following the international break: "We will obviously be trying to manage the players' energy so there will definitely be some changes to the starting XI. I can't say how many, but any changes will be for players who deserve it and show really good impact in training and on the pitch."
Luka Vuskovic, who has helped to keep six clean sheets in nine appearances so far this season, could be rested. Hurzeler explained: "His mindset is to play every game but we also need to look to protect for the future, especially as he had a busy trip with the Croatia national team. If we don't manage him against Kauno Zalgiris, we will look to manage him in the next few weeks."
He confirmed that Bart Verbruggen is his first-choice goalkeeper for European competitions, but Jason Steele will "definitely get a game" in the Conference League this campaign.
On what he expects from Kauno Zalgiris, who lifted the Lithuanian Cup on Sunday: "We expect to face a team with a lot of belief and confidence because they are doing well in their league and they have also won a domestic cup. We expect them to defend well in a low block and also to be good in transition. They won't come to sit back, they will try to play out from the back."
The Seagulls are anticipating "another interesting challenge" against the Lithuanian top-flight side.
European fixtures are "different" to Premier League games in terms of knowing what to expect from your opponents, the intensity of their game and how capable they are. Therefore, Brighton will need to be "ready to adapt in the short-term".
Lastly, Hurzeler reiterated his desire for Amex Stadium to become a "fortress" as well as a "tough and dirty" place to go to. He is hoping for an "energetic atmosphere" for their opening Conference League fixture.
Listen to more reaction from Hurzeler above or on BBC Sounds here
Referee should have rejected VAR advicepublished at 12:27 BST 14 October
12:27 BST 14 October
Dale Johnson Football issues correspondent
Image source, Getty Images
The red card controversially shown to Brighton defender Pascal Struijk at Sunderland, after an intervention by the video assistant referee (VAR), has been overturned.
Struijk was sent off 57 minutes in to Saturday's match at the Stadium of Light, when he was adjudged to have fouled Sunderland forward Wilson Isidor as he tried to run on to a through-ball.
Neither referee Thomas Bramall nor his assistant gave a foul initially, but VAR Neil Davies intervened and called the on-field official to the screen.
After watching the replay multiple times, Bramall showed Struijk a straight red card for denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity.
If Struijk had been sent off by referee Bramall it would have been a poor decision, but the fact it came via a VAR intervention is much worse.
Red cards for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity via video review are rare, simply because there are so many subjective considerations.
Last season, for instance, there were three - for Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai, Crystal Palace's Maxence Lacroix and Bournemouth's Marcos Senesi (though this was wrongly rejected at the monitor).
There was far too much doubt that Isidor would get to the ball before Bart Verbruggen. That means it was a possible goalscoring opportunity rather than obvious.
With such a high bar on VAR in the Premier League, Bramall should not have been sent to the monitor.
Perhaps, when sent to the screen, his judgement was clouded because he did not give a foul - but it was the kind of situation where the referee should be rejecting the advice of the VAR.
