Saturday afternoon saw manager Chris Hughton and the Brighton and Hove Albion boys continue their pre-season preparations with a clash against AFC Wimbledon at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.
First-half goals from Joe Piggot and Kwesi Appiah gave the hosts a 2-0 advantage as we went into the halftime break, but an Oliver Norwood penalty did restore some hope with 30 minutes left to play. Sadly Brighton couldn’t draw level on the day although Anthony Knockaert did strike the woodwork.
📝 Albion were narrowly beaten 2-1 in their pre-season friendly against @AFCWimbledon this afternoon.
⚽️ Oliver Norwood converted from the penalty spot in the second half for the Seagulls.#BHAFC 🔵⚪️
Match Report ➡️ https://t.co/fnLjkgH12P pic.twitter.com/zj9eGsWGIP
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) July 21, 2018
It’s all about fitness and match minutes in pre-season though so fans shouldn’t overly panic and Hughton did give a first start to new signing David Button following his arrival the other week from Fulham and Shane Duffy got his first start of pre-season as well.
One concern from the game was Jurgen Locadia going off with an injury just ahead of the hour mark, but hopefully, that won’t turn out to be too much of an issue. Hughton has said the substitution was precautionary, as was the early substitution of Duffy.
💬 "It was a good workout – we probably didn't turn up for the first half an hour but it's the workout we wanted and are looking for at this stage."
Chris Hughton's thoughts on today… #BHAFC 🔵⚪️
Read ➡️ https://t.co/yeuEtC6ygF pic.twitter.com/HMIinJUoi1
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) July 21, 2018
Brighton:
Button, Schelotto (Moore 70), Barclay, Duffy (White 21), Bong (Davies 70), Knockaert (Tilley 70), Kayal (Mandriou 70), Stephens (Norwood 61), March (Gyokeres 70), Gross (Towell 61), Locadia (Connolly 55).
Subs not used:
McGill, Radulovic.
Goals – Norwood (pen 64).
AFC Wimbledon:
King, Watson (Thomas 61), Nightingale, Oshilaja, Meades (Sibbick 61), Pinnock, Hartigan, Trotter (Wordsworth 45), Wagstaff (Soares 61), Pigott (Barcham 61), Appiah (Hanson 45).
Subs not used:
McDonnell.
Goals – Piggot (14), Appiah (30).