Brighton and Hove Albion opened their pre-season game schedule and took to the pitch for the first time yesterday to face FC St Gallen on Saturday.
The 1-1 draw was the first match in what is now a four-week warm-up for us as we prepare for the coming 2018/19 Premier League game and our Swiss opposition are ahead of us in terms of fitness, but we more than matched them across the game.
They did take the lead through Nassim Ben Khalifa in the 44th minute, but a Tomer Hemed header in the second half in the Kybunpark saw us come out of the match level. Chris Hughton would’ve undoubtedly been pleased with the effort on display especially as we were missing players, but pre-season is about results strictly.
Brighton first half:
Walton, Bernardo, White, Dunk, Bong, Kayal, Stephens, Gross, March, Baldock, Murray (Gyokeres 34).
Subs not used:
Keto, Barclay, Towell, Skalak.
Brighton second half:
Walton (Keto 62), Schelotto, Bruno, Barclay, Suttner, Knockaert, Norwood, Propper, Locadia, Gyokeres, Hemed.
Subs not used:
Towell, Skalak.
Goals – Hemed (59).
Yellows – Bernardo.
💬 "We grew into the game and in the end probably had the better chances to win it."
Chris Hughton on today's draw with @FCSG_1879… 🇨🇭#BHAFC 🔵⚪️
Read + watch ➡️ https://t.co/SZYxvpUgCg pic.twitter.com/tPwoEpa7h5
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) July 14, 2018
Speaking to the Official Site to discuss the match after the full time whistle, our gaffer explained.
“I was pleased with the result given the respective stages of pre-season that both sides are in, and that was probably reflected in the game. The intensity of their game showed at the start, but I thought we grew into the contest and ultimately in the end we had the better chances to go and win it. But it was a good run-out for us given the fact that they start their season next week and at this moment we’ve come through it well.”
The game, of course, brings out time out in Austria at our training camp to an end and they now return to home soil after what has been a positive and productive spell away.