Brighton & Hove Albion 3-1 West Brom: Chris Hughton's side break goalscoring duck with victory over Baggies thanks to Pascal Gross masterclass

  • Pascal Gross scored Brighton's first Premier League goal this season with his opener just before half time
  • Gross doubled his tally and the home side's advantage minutes into the second half with a lovely low drive
  • The German midfielder then turned provider and crossed for striker Tomer Hemed to head in off the post
  • Substitute James Morrison grabbed one back but it proved to be in vain as Brighton strolled to victory

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At long last, not one, not two, but three Premier League goals for Brighton & Hove Albion and a first win in the top flight for 34 years.

Chris Hughton's side had registered only six shots on target this season, scoring none. Against West Bromwich Albion, who were uncharacteristically wobbly at the back, they managed just as many and half of them went in.

Gordon Smith was the last man to score in the top tier of English football for Brighton in May 1983. It was German Pascal Gross who broke their duck here.

Pascal Gross opens the scoring for the home side with a close-range shot that squeezes past goalkeeper Ben Foster

Pascal Gross opens the scoring for the home side with a close-range shot that squeezes past goalkeeper Ben Foster

Gross celebrates with his Brighton team-mates after latching onto Solly March's cross and putting the ball beyond Foster

Gross celebrates with his Brighton team-mates after latching onto Solly March's cross and putting the ball beyond Foster

Gross scores his second and doubles Brighton's advantage with a pile-driver from outside the box 

Gross scores his second and doubles Brighton's advantage with a pile-driver from outside the box 

The German midfielder's effort sizzles past a helpless diving Foster and hits the corner of the net for Brighton's second

The German midfielder's effort sizzles past a helpless diving Foster and hits the corner of the net for Brighton's second

Tomer Hemed jumps for joy after heading past Foster from a Gross delivery to put the home side three goals to the good

Tomer Hemed jumps for joy after heading past Foster from a Gross delivery to put the home side three goals to the good

James Morrison curls into the net to grab a goal back for West Brom after coming off the substitutes' bench 

James Morrison curls into the net to grab a goal back for West Brom after coming off the substitutes' bench 

PLAYER RATINGS, LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE

Brighton & Hove Albion (4-4-1-1): Ryan 7; Bruno 7 (Rosenior 62, 6.5), Duffy 7.5, Dunk 7.5, Suttner 7; Knockaert 7.5, Propper 7.5, Stephens 7, March 8; Gross 9; Hemed 8 (Murray 83)


Subs (not used): Maenpaa, Huenemeier, Skalak, Murphy, Izquierdo

Scorers: Gross (45, 48), Hemed (63)

Booked: March, Murray

Manager: Chris Hughton 7

West Bromwich Albion (4-1-4-1): Foster 5; Dawson 5.5, Evans 5.5, Hegazi 5.5 (Gibbs 57, 6), Nyom 5.5; Barry 6; Phillips 5.5, Livermore 6 (Morrison 71, 6.5), Krychowiak 5.5, Rodriguez 5.5; Rondon 5 (Burke 57, 6)

Subs (not used): Myhill, Yacob, Brunt, McClean

Scorers: Morrison (77)

Booked: NONE

Manager: Tony Pulis 5.5

Referee: Chris Kavanagh 6 

MOTM: Pascal Gross

Season at a glance

  • Premier League
  • Premier League
  • Championship
  • League One
  • League Two
  • Scottish Premiership
  • Scottish Div 1
  • Scottish Div 2
  • Scottish Div 3
  • Ligue 1
  • Serie A
  • La Liga
  • Bundesliga

 

Pascal Gross put in a man-of-the-match display and scored their opener after a patient move, visit our exclusive MATCH ZONE service for more stats.

Pascal Gross put in a man-of-the-match display and scored their opener after a patient move, visit our exclusive MATCH ZONE service for more stats.


 

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Summer signing Gross scored their first-ever Premier League goals in the 45th and 48th minutes.

As one fan, who went for a half-time pint and pie, shouted while walking past the press moments after the start of the second half: 'I missed both goals. I don't believe it.'

He got to see the Seagulls' third, at least, scored in the 63rd minute by Tomer Hemed and set up by Gross. That came before James Morrison's consolation for the Baggies.

Lewis Dunk battles for possession of the ball with West Brom forward Salomon Rondon in rainy conditions

Lewis Dunk battles for possession of the ball with West Brom forward Salomon Rondon in rainy conditions

Brighton defender Shane Duffy taps home into an empty net but his goal is disallowed for offside 

Brighton defender Shane Duffy taps home into an empty net but his goal is disallowed for offside 

Duffy wheels away in celebration before realising his goal has not stood but he manages to see the funny side 

Duffy wheels away in celebration before realising his goal has not stood but he manages to see the funny side 

Markus Suttner boots the ball out of defence as West Brom midfielder Jake Livermore attempts to block his clearance

Markus Suttner boots the ball out of defence as West Brom midfielder Jake Livermore attempts to block his clearance

'It didn't feel like we needed some relief but I suppose we did,' Hughton said of Brighton's first goal and win this season.

'I have a group of lads here who are realistic enough to know it's going to be a tough season.

'But there's a really good feeling to have got that win under our belts, and not only to have scored three but to have got into positions to score a few more.'

The first all-Albion fixture in the top flight for 35 seasons, with the last being Brighton v West Brom in February 1983, the home side started on top.

Ahmed Hegazy tries to shepherd the ball out of play as Brighton forward Hemed applies pressure

Ahmed Hegazy tries to shepherd the ball out of play as Brighton forward Hemed applies pressure

Matt Phillips manages to escape from Solly March and fires a shot towards goal but Suttner chases back and blocks his effort

Matt Phillips manages to escape from Solly March and fires a shot towards goal but Suttner chases back and blocks his effort

West Brom boss Tony Pulis pleads with his side to show a better performance as he screams orders from the touchline

West Brom boss Tony Pulis pleads with his side to show a better performance as he screams orders from the touchline

They thought they had got their goal in the 14th minute until the linesman's flag cut short the celebrations.

A wicked shot by Solly March stung the palms of Ben Foster and Shane Duffy poked in the rebound. Replays showed it was rightly ruled out for offside.

Gareth Barry – going up against his 45th different club in the Premier League, equalling Ryan Giggs' record – was West Brom's best player here.

The 36-year-old went close to opening the scoring through a ferocious half-volley that forced Mathew Ryan to make the save.

Brighton's captain Bruno is examined by their physio after sustaining an injury and is replaced by Liam Rosenior

Brighton's captain Bruno is examined by their physio after sustaining an injury and is replaced by Liam Rosenior

Hemed beats Jonny Evans to the ball and glances in Gross' cross off the post to extend the home side's advantage to three

Hemed beats Jonny Evans to the ball and glances in Gross' cross off the post to extend the home side's advantage to three

West Brom defenders Craig Dawson, Allan Nyom and Evans look on dejected after Brighton's third goal

West Brom defenders Craig Dawson, Allan Nyom and Evans look on dejected after Brighton's third goal

GOOD BUY, BAD BUY? 

Brighton: Who else but Pascal Gross? Scored two, then set up the third to win this for Brighton.

West Brom: Grzegorz Krychowiak will surely be a fine loan signing but he didn’t dazzle here, often sitting too deep.

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Yet it was Brighton who took the lead ahead of half time when a cross by March floated over West Brom's Allan Nyom to find Gross.

The German could have hit it first time, though he took a touch instead. Cutting inside on his left foot, Gross fired the ball beyond Foster.

Brighton doubled their advantage at the start of the second half, just as supporters were taking to their seats.

What those who weren't in the stands missed was a low shot from 20 yards by Gross. Foster was disappointed to be beaten, and Tony Pulis far from happy.

'To concede just before half-time and then a minute after half-time is a real kick in the goolies for you,' the West Brom boss said. 'It gave them a massive lift.

Dawson dives unchallenged to header the ball over to one of his team-mates as his side slip to a defeat

Dawson dives unchallenged to header the ball over to one of his team-mates as his side slip to a defeat

Anthony Knockaert goes past Phillips and retains possession for the home side to help run down the clock

Anthony Knockaert goes past Phillips and retains possession for the home side to help run down the clock

Morrison almost scores his second but Matthew Ryan gets off his line quickly and denies the substitute 

Morrison almost scores his second but Matthew Ryan gets off his line quickly and denies the substitute 

Gross applauds the fans after his match-winning performance inspires Brighton to first Premier League victory of the season 

Gross applauds the fans after his match-winning performance inspires Brighton to first Premier League victory of the season 

'The second goal is poor, kills us and lifts them again. Going 3-0 down was the icing on the cake for what we'd done.'

Brighton got their third when Hemed fought his way to the near post ahead of Jonny Evans to meet Gross' cross. Job done.

West Brom got a goal back via their three substitutes in the 77th minute when a cross by Kieran Gibbs found the head of Oliver Burke. The latter laid it off for Morrison.

Despite Duffy's attempt to handle it off the line, the ball trickled over and the Brighton defender avoided being sent off.

Brighton missed out on signing a striker this summer, much to their annoyance, yet it mattered little here thanks to midfielder Gross. They're up and running.