Brentford 0-2 Brighton & Hove Albion
by Layth Yousif
at the Community Stadium

FIRST-HALF goals from Diego Gomez and veteran Danny Welbeck helped seal a deserved 2-0 victory for Brighton & Hove Albion after a surprisingly lacklustre display from Keith Andrews’s Brentford.

In front of 17,163 fans on a dull February Saturday afternoon, it was another evergreen footballer who also shone brightly alongside Welbeck. When the redoubtable James Milner made his 654th Premier League appearance, knocking former Aston Villa colleague Gareth Barry off top spot, to break the modern-era record for the most top-flight games.

Speaking after the triumph, the modest Milner, ever the team player, was far more interested in the triumph, rather than any personal acclaim, saying: “It was a huge win. So important for us. We’ve been unfortunate in recent weeks, and we haven’t got the rewards we deserved.

“The boys have stuck together and team spirit has been outstanding in tough times [and the] manager has kept us going.

“To come through today in a tough game like that and defend like we did, play like we did. We really deserved it.”

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler’s side came into the clash under pressure, having lost four and drawn two of their past six Premier League matches. The young German head coach making five changes to his side that lost 3-0 to Liverpool in the FA Cup last Saturday.

Such had been Brighton’s poor form, the south-coast visitors had won just one of their past 13 league games, falling from the heady heights of fifth place, to 14th in the table. In the process, risking being sucked from the fringes of a notional relegation battle, to a full-blown struggle for top-flight survival if their paltry form continued.

Brentford boss Keith Andrews made two changes to the Bees side that blazed incessantly during the 1-1 Premier League draw with Arsenal nine days ago. Aaron Hickey and Jordan Henderson were drafted into the starting XI, with Yehor Yarmoliuk dropping to the bench, while long-throw exponent Michael Kayode missed out altogether, Andrews revealing the set piece specialist pivotal to his plans picked up a knock in training.

Milner has never been a sentimental soul, a trait that has surely powered his near quarter of a century operating at the top level of the country’s game, it was somehow fitting his first touch after kick-off — following warm applause from home, and away fans in the stadium on his record-breaking achievement — went straight out of play for a Brentford throw. The only concession to such a landmark day was the number 654 inked on the bottom of his boots.

Now we could get on with the serious business of finding out whether Brentford could further consolidate their hopes of European football for the first time in their history — or would Brighton pick up their first win since January 3.

The perceptive Kaoru Mitoma was the catalyst for a move that saw Albion’s Jack Hinshelwood test Bees keeper Caoimhin Kelleher from outside the box. The former Liverpool shot-stopper was equal to the task, but only just, fumbling the ball as the shot stung his hands, before trickling inches past the post, for a corner that came to nothing.

Kelleher was to deny the lively Mitoma moments later, as the Japan forward powered through the Bees backline, in a move that was prompted by wily veteran Milner.

It was a joy to see the 40-year-old revelling in his task, which was to win the ball, and pass it to far more talented players, as he has done so during the entirety of his storied career that stretches most of this century. Being such a relentlessly reliable conduit in allowing far more creative colleagues to shine has also helped the unassuming former Liverpool and Manchester City midfielder to revered longevity bringing a Champions League, and three Premier League titles.

Shortly afterwards, Milner even had an attempt himself, his low drive flying narrowly past Kelleher’s right-hand post, underlining the fact that the former Leeds United and Liverpool midfielder had scored an unsung 75 career goals.

Brentford, who started the day in seventh place, a mere two points off billionaire moneybags Chelsea in fifth spot attempted to open the scoring when Igor Thiago, Brentford’s bustling Brazil striker, who arrived at the Bees via Bulgarian and Belgium football, broke through. But the forward shot over when well-placed on 25 minutes, prior to captain Mathias Jensen drilling a shot over the bar 120 seconds later.

Yet, in truth, the Bees side that battled so hard against the Gunners earlier this month were nowhere to be seen, leaving a frustrated Andrews to concede after the match: “We didn’t hit the levels that we’ve been doing pretty consistently. That’s where the game was lost.”

The home side were to rue their missed chances, when Albion’s Gomez fired home after following up Ferdi Kadioglu’s long-range strike that hit the bar. The ball fortuitously falling to the visitor’s number 25, but still with work to do, as the 22-year-old Paraguayan midfielder showed excellent technique, steering the ball low, left-footed past Bees keeper Kelleher, to make it 1-0 to Brighton on the half-hour mark.

The Seagulls doubled their lead before half time through their worldly wise striker Welbeck, who fired home from close range after capitalising on an error by Nathan Collins. The mistake compounded by the fact the 24-year-old Irishman had only just come on for the injured Hickey 45 seconds earlier, as the former Manchester United and Arsenal forward made it 2-0 to Brighton at the interval.

Seizing on the chance, Welbeck, who will be 36 in November, eagerly smashed the ball into the net past Kelleher, following Collins’s failure to clear after an elaborately inelegant flick, for his tenth goal of a fruitful campaign. Their jubilant travelling fans singing: “We are staying up,” before chorusing with heavy sarcasm at their unexpected lead: “We’re going to win the league.” The home support merely responded with a smattering of boos at the half time whistle.

Could Brighton lodge only their third away league win of the campaign, or would Brentford avoid a third home league defeat this season?

Collins attempted to make amends after his error for Brighton’s second with his 54th minute header, but his effort flew wide. Bees No19 Dango Ouattara hooked over when well-placed, prior to Jensen failing to lift the ball over Bart Verbruggen as the game opened up. The visitors goalkeeper also preventing an own goal from Joel Vetlman late on.

However, through it all was the composed and assured Milner, blocking, hassling, harrying, heading, tackling, tracking and covering, holding his position, and the line at times, as if his life depended on such a thing, all the while helping Brighton edge towards victory.

Milner was a mere 16 years old, earning £70 a week at Leeds United, when he made his Premier League debut back in 2002.

Yet here he was, an astonishing 24 years later, still striving to help his grateful teammates, still admirably giving his all, the fires still burning, even after nearly two-and-a-half decade’s service. Such was his influence, it was hardly surprising to note Milner had the most touches in a Brighton shirt, even if you certainly didn’t require the complex data models employed by both teams to understand Milner’s important contribution.

And when there was a break in play midway through the second half, it was noticeable Milner — fit as a fiddle but in need of a quick energy hit — was the only player called for a gel boost from the bench, in a bid to maintain his levels. And why not. It was to prove the only concession to his age.

In a rare moment of reflection after the match, Milner explained: “It’s the drive and hunger [that keep you going]. You want to be the best every day, whether it’s game or training.

“I’m surrounded by a lot of young lads. I want to contribute to their careers, push them and help them get to the highest level as quick as possible. That’s what I’m here to do.

“Hopefully, I’ve proved the last few games that I can still contribute on the pitch. I’m delighted to be part of it and the dressing room, it’s full of incredible characters and very good players, and a good up-and-coming manager.”

Such was the professionalism from the Leeds-born player, who moved into his 40s last month, it was also instructive to note that when one of the Brighton staff was slow in providing an energy drink for him, Milner simply snatched it out of the poor chap’s hand, immediately glugging down the restorative nectar necessary to allow him to maintain his levels. All the while glaring with deadly intent at such a momentary lapse in support in aid of the team cause from his bench. Because for modest Milner, ego-less, unsung, but praiseworthy Milner, it has always been about the team.

As the rain predictably arrived to lash down right on the final whistle, even former teammates joined in acclaiming Milner, with his former Liverpool captain Henderson warmly greeting his old teammate after hostilities ended.

No wonder Brighton boss Hurzeler took time to hail Milner after the much-needed victory, saying: “He’s a role model on the pitch and beside the pitch.

“There’s no surprise why he’s there where he is at the moment because he has such great discipline. He has such a great effort every day and he is never satisfied.”