What the papers say: Brighton & Hove Albion v Nottingham Forest

A late Ramon Sosa equaliser saw Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion share the points at the Amex Stadium, with three red cards the main talking point. Here’s what the national newspapers had to say

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The Guardian

The red mist descended on the Amex Stadium as tempers reached boiling point in a fractious finale to this ill-tempered draw, which resulted in Morgan Gibbs-White and both managers being sent off. Nottingham Forest’s midfielder Gibbs-White was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge on the substitute João Pedro while Nuno Espírito Santo and Fabian Hürzeler were dismissed for their furious reactions on the touchline.

Chris Wood’s early penalty sparked hopes of a fifth successive away victory for Forest, on a run stretching back to the end of last season. Two Brighton goals at the end of the first half – a magnificent header from the teenager Jack Hinshelwood and Danny Welbeck’s curling free-kick – turned the contest on its head. The visitors rung the changes in the second half and were rewarded with an equaliser from the substitute Ramón Sosa to ensure both teams remain unbeaten.

The Times

What do you get when the team with the Premier League’s canniest offside trap meets the top flight’s counterattacking specialists? A heck of a lot more than anyone bargained for, that’s for sure. A pulsating encounter between Brighton & Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest ended with four goals shared, ten yellow cards, three reds and both teams retaining their impressive unbeaten Premier League starts.

Yet not for the first time this season, unfortunately, the game ended with the spotlight shining brightest on the match officials, after Morgan Gibbs-White’s 83rd minute dismissal for a challenge on Brighton’s João Pedro. Gibbs-White’s tackle was reckless — the kind of scissor challenge that would barely have raised an eyebrow a decade ago but now leaves a referee with a decision to make.

Initially, though, the referee, Rob Jones, did not appear to think the tackle warranted even a foul, and instead signalled that Gibbs-White had won the ball. Thirty seconds later, his opinion had changed and the Forest No 10 — who had been booked for an earlier foul — was shown a second yellow card, leading to a furious eruption on the sidelines.

The Telegraph

Nottingham Forest are furious with the decision-making process by the match officials in the 2-2 draw with Brighton and believe it goes directly against guidelines they were given before the season.

The game exploded with seven minutes to go when Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White was shown a second yellow card for a challenge in front of the dugouts on Brighton’s Joao Pedro.

Referee Rob Jones appeared to signal Gibbs-White had got the ball but Forest believe he was overruled by fourth official Anthony Taylor, who instructed the official to show a second yellow Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo was also sent off for his reaction to that decision, as was Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler for his role in the aftermath.

Forest are thought to be particularly upset about the decision as they were told by Professional Game Match Officials Ltd before the start of the season that referees’ on-field calls would be backed -–not overturned as was the case here. The protocol was termed ‘referee’s call’ in meetings between officials and managers before the season started, and it is thought that Forest believe today’s decision contradicts the edict and undermines the on-field referee.

The Independent

Nottingham Forest assistant manager Rui Silva suggested referee Robert Jones should have stuck with his initial decision not to send off Morgan Gibbs-White following a chaotic end to a 2-2 draw at Brighton.

Gibbs-White’s lunging challenge on Albion substitute Joao Pedro sparked ill-tempered scenes at the Amex Stadium, leading to Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo and Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler also receiving red cards.

Jones originally made the shape of a ball to indicate a clean tackle before subsequently showing Forest captain Gibbs-White a second yellow card, with fourth official Anthony Taylor possibly influencing the final verdict.

The Mail

Four goals, three red cards and barely a moment to catch your breath. There is, however, only one place to start when telling the story of this action-packed draw.

It was late in the second half, the scoreline already locked at two apiece, when Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White slid in hard to stop Joao Pedro, who was leading the charge on a Brighton counterattack.

A strong challenge, undoubtedly. One that erred on the side of recklessness, but sat in that difficult grey area because Gibbs-White appeared to have won the ball. Not least in the eyes of the man it mattered most, referee Robert Jones, who even appeared to indicate he believed the Forest man had won the ball by drawing a circular shape in the air with his hands.

The Mirror

Brighton’s Premier League match against Nottingham Forest descended into chaos in the closing stages after a tackle from Morgan Gibbs-White.

Gibbs-White was shown a second yellow card in the 83rd minute after going in for a slide tackle on Brighton striker Joao Pedro as he tried to break. Referee Robert Jones initially signalled that Gibbs-White had won the ball, but eventually showed him a second yellow card for the challenge, which came from behind.

That triggered anger on the sidelines and saw Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo and Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler dismissed, while Forest assistant Rui Pedro Silva was also booked after a scrum of people surrounded Jones.

The Sun

Danny Welbeck is proof that even old dogs can learn new tricks.

But Brighton’s 33-year-old pedigree pup did not have the last laugh as Nottingham Forest clawed their way back before it all turned ugly on the south coast with THREE red cards.

Welbeck netted his 70th Prem goal – and his FIRST direct free-kick – just before the break to complete a Seagulls’ turnaround after Jack Hinshelwood’s 42nd minute leveller.

Forest had gone ahead through Chris Wood’s 13th minute penalty but looked down and out until super-sub Ramon Sosa popped up with a timely 70th minute equaliser.

The two teams – who both remain unbeaten in the Prem this campaign – then ended without their managers on the touchline following Morgan Gibbs-White’s 83rd minute sending off.

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