Brighton & Hove Albion have had a roller-coaster campaign this season. The Seagulls survived relegation by just two points, but it could not save manager Chris Hughton who was sacked earlier today.
After what has been a tough season, here are three best performers for the Albion in the recently concluded campaign.
Pascal Gross
Pascal Gross was Brighton’s creator-in-chief this season. His ability to find key passes, coupled with his industry, served the Seagulls quite well.
Gross delivered 2.2 key passes per game – a tally bettered by only six players in the league this season. Most of his key passes came from set-pieces, which is what helped him earn his reputation during his time at FC Ingolstadt.
And this proficiency from set-pieces often becomes the x-factor, especially for a club like Brighton. Hence, it’s probably fair to say that Gross has been one of the most important players for the club in recent seasons and will undoubtedly play a key role next term.
Glenn Murray
At the age of 35, one would expect Glenn Murray to back down. But the veteran forward once again offered great service upfront, and restricted new recruit Florian Andone to the bench for a large part of the season.
Murray finished the season as the club’s top goalscorer with 13 goals. His aerial and physical prowess enabled Chris Hughton’s men to use him a target-man, especially with the likes of Gross and Solly March whipping in crosses into the box.
It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Murray next season as Brighton will have a new manager.
Shane Duffy
Shane Duffy was a rock at the back for Brighton. His commitment and no-nonsense defensive philosophy helped the Seagulls survive relegation.
Duffy’s aerial prowess, in particular, has the restricted the opposition from whipping in crosses into the box – something that was rather evident in the 4-1 defeat to Manchester City this past weekend.
As far as statistics are concerned, Duffy has amassed almost seven clearances per game, which is phenomenal for any Premier League defender. He has also won a whopping 187 aerial challenges this season – seventh most in the league.
And we look forward to the upcoming season, Duffy’s defensive combination with Lewis will once again be critical to their chances of prolonging their stay in the Premier League.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored