Brighton 3 West Brom 1: MATCH HIGHLIGHTS – Pascal Gross double gets party started before Tomer Hemed completes rout before James Morrison grabs consolation
YOU wait 34 years for a goal in the top flight - and then three come along at once, as Brighton finally opened their Premier League scoring account.
After firing blanks against Manchester City, Leicester and Watford, midfielder Pascal Gross got them off the mark for the season.
The German, who arrived in a low-key £3million transfer from Ingolstadt last month, fired home either side of half time to put the Seagulls in control.
He then turned provider as he crossed for Tomer Hemed to head home as West Brom imploded.
This match was supposed to be a chance for West Brom's Grzegorz Krychowiak to show off his skills.
The Poland international midfielder, who cost PSG £30million, is on loan with the Baggies but he was completely outclassed by Gross.
The German slotted home just before halftime after West Brom failed to clear Solly March's cross from the left.
And he then doubled the home side's advantage two minutes after the restart when he raced on to a through ball from Hemed and slotted past Ben Foster.
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Gross then crossed for Hemed who headed past the hapless Foster at the near post on 63 minutes.
It was no less than Brighton deserved after Shane Duffy also went close to adding his name to the scoresheet.
West Brom were woeful and unrecognisable from the side that had started the season so well.
But they were revived after boss Tony Pulis introduced substitutes James Morrison, Oliver Burke and debutant Kieran Gibbs.
And all three combined as Morrison pulled a goal back for the Baggies with 12 minutes to go.
INTERACTIVE STATS - CLICK on the categories to find out how the teams fared
INTERACTIVE LINE-UPS– CLICK on a player’s number below to see their stats
FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS
- Millions of pounds were spent in the transfer window with changes all over the Premier League but Brighton stuck with the same side that played against Watford and it paid off.
- Before Saturday, Brighton’s last top-flight goal came in 1983 when Gordon Smith bagged in a 2-1 defeat at Norwich on May 14.
- Seagulls chairman Tony Bloom said his club was disappointed to miss out on Tottenham's Vincent Janssen on deadline day – maybe he hasn’t seen him play?
- West Brom midfielder Gareth Barry was playing against his 45th Premier League opponent with his trip to Brighton – it was not a happy one.
- Pascal Gross was a snip at just £3m from Ingolstadt - it makes the £23m Man City offered for Jonny Evans look crazy.
- Kieran Gibbs was shipped out of Arsenal to finally play regular first-team football - he might want a return to the Gunners reserves after this West Brom debut.
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WHAT THEY SAID
Chris Hughton said: “We knew what we wanted in the game plan. The want to score goals and win the game was there.”
On Pascal Gross’ goals, the winning boss added: “It's something we've been working with him. He's been working hard and when he gets in those areas he shoots more."
Pascal Gross said: "We are very happy today and it is a special day for me. I try and help the team with my quality and It was a team performance.”
DREAM TEAM RATINGS
Brighton: Ryan 7; Bruno 6, Duffy 8, Dunk 7, Suttner 6; Knockaert 7, Propper 7, Stephens 6, March 7; Gross 9; Hemed 8.
Subs: Murray 5, Rosenior 6
West Brom: Foster 5; Dawson 7, Hegazi 6, Evans 6, Nyom 6; Krychowiak 6, Barry 6, Livermore 5; Phillips 5, Rondon 6, Rodriguez 6.
Subs: Morrison 7, Burke 6, Gibbs 6,
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