As Roberto De Zerbi would attest, a month can be a long time in football. At the start of March, the Brighton manager was being linked with a move to Barcelona, Bayern Munich or Liverpool in the summer after taking Brighton to the last 16 of the Europa League.
De Zerbi admitted this week that his future on the south coast remains uncertain despite having two years left on his contract and he demanded talks with the owner, Tony Bloom, “to understand their plan”. But the manner of his side’s display in this clash of styles is unlikely to have convinced any of Europe’s big hitters that he is the manager to take them forward.
A toothless Brentford could not take advantage in a strangely subdued evening that never really got going and stretched their search for a victory to eight matches, although a point should at least go some way to securing another season of Premier League football for Thomas Frank’s side.
“We are starting to build some momentum after a difficult few weeks,” Frank said. Brentford recorded a clean sheet for the first time here since October and the draw moved them six points clear of Luton in the relegation places. “We’re not thinking about the drop zone but the performances are improving and we have belief,” the manager said.
Fresh from announcing a record Premier League profit of £122.8m that does not even include the £115m Chelsea paid for Moisés Caicedo, Bloom took his customary place in the away end. “The next time I’m suspended I want to go in there with him,” De Zerbi said.
Bloom’s feud with Brentford’s owner, Matthew Benham, who has reportedly hired the prestigious firm Rothschild to oversee a process that could involve the sale of a controlling stake of the club, goes back to 2004 when Bloom sacked him from his company, Premier Bet. The pair have not spoken since and Benham would have loved to see his side end their winless run against his bitter rival but it wasn’t to be this time.
Bloom always travels to this fixture on the team bus and would have had plenty of opportunity to discuss his future plans with De Zerbi on the way, although those talks are expected to be put on ice until the end of the season. Oh to be a fly on the wall when they do.
“My ambitions are the same as my players and my fans,” De Zerbi said. “When I said something it was to try and push my club to give something more every season and to work better in terms of organisation of the club, not for myself. But no one can change my style of work.”
Yoane Wissa had the first opportunity when he fired wide from a Keane Lewis‑Potter cross after a cagey start from both sides that sadly proved to be a precursor for the whole match.
Ivan Toney produced a weak shot from close range with his first sight of goal and it was a similar story at the other end when Pedro wriggled free inside the area but could only find the gloves of Mark Flekken.
Brighton at last found some rhythm as Carlos Baleba began to impose himself in midfield and Adam Lallana saw his effort from 25 yards out fizz past the post.
The Cameroonian then forced Flekken into a save after controlling the ball on his chest, with the referee, Andrew Madley, ruling that Lewis Dunk had fouled Wissa first when they tangled at the resulting corner despite being sent to review the incident by VAR.
“I’ve never seen a referee go to the screen and not give a penalty, so I’ve learned something new today,” De Zerbi said.
Wissa thought he should have had a penalty himself at the start of the second half after going shoulder to shoulder with Jan Paul van Hecke but Madley again waved away the appeals. De Zerbi pulled his coat up over his head in reaction to Facundo Buonanotte being shown a yellow card for a reckless foul on Nathan Collins.
Frank threw on Bryan Mbeumo in the hope of snatching a late victory but Danny Welbeck had the best chances to win it when he headed wide before dragging a shot wide in injury time, to his manager’s clear frustration.
