Brilliant Brighton Humble Newly-Promoted Hatters in Premier League Opener

Luton Town suffered a sobering 4-1 defeat at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion in the club’s maiden Premier League match - the Hatters’ first top flight fixture since 1992. 

Albion established a two-goal lead through Solly March and Joao Pedro before Carlton Morris’s penalty halved the deficit with nine minutes of normal time remaining, but the hosts ran riot in the closing stages thanks to goals from Simon Adingra and Evan Ferguson. 

Roberto De Zerbi’s men, who crowned the 2022/23 campaign with a sixth-place finish and Europa League qualification, swiftly asserted their dominance in the first five minutes of the new season, and should have taken the lead when new signing Pedro inexplicably dragged wide from six yards. 

There was no sign that Brighton had been destabilised by a transfer window in which they have sold Alexis Mac Allister and Robert Sanchez. The hosts’ midfield play remained intricate and dynamic, despite the impending departure of Moises Caicedo.

Town’s players struggled to get to grips with the game’s relentless tempo, and some of the disparities between Championship and Premier League football were clear to see from the outset. But the visitors showed some promising signs on the counter attack, and almost scored when Manchester City loanee Issa Kabore’s cross from the right was headed wide by Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu. 

Brighton got the goal their possession promised on 36 minutes when Kaoro Mitoma dazzled down the left, displaying impeccable control into March, who astutely headed back across goal, under the crossbar and into the net. 

Luton almost found a quick response when Carlton Morris connected with Ryan Giles’s outswinging corner, but his firm header was parried clear by Brighton keeper Jason Steele.

Pervis Estupinan ran relentlessly down the left flank from wing back, and his endeavour should have been rewarded when he tee’d up Danny Welbeck who saw his shot roll agonisingly against the post and into the arms of Luton keeper Thomas Kaminski.

To some extent, Luton were fortunate to head into the break just one goal behind but mounted some pressure at the beginning of the second half, most notably when substitute Jacob Brown’s deflected cross from the right narrowly evaded the tumbling Morris at the back post. 

Giles’s delivery from set pieces created cause for Luton optimism and Brighton concern, but the hosts exuded class and regained firm control as the half wore on, passing in perfect triangles between Pascal Gross, Pedro and fellow debutant Mahmoud Dahoud. 

Albion carved open the Luton defence on 70 minutes, as they had done so many times before, and this time Pedro was hauled down by Tom Lockyer, who was playing his first competitive match since undergoing heart surgery following Luton’s Championship play-off final victory in May. 

Referee David Coote pointed to the spot and Pedro fired high to Kaminski’s left. The Belgian stopper got fingertips to the ball, but it was not enough to deny Albion their second goal. 

Luton rallied when the lively Brown combined cleverly with Morris down the right, and when the former’s cross struck the flailing arm of Brighton captain Lewis Dunk, Coote once again pointed to the spot. Morris made no mistake, rolling to his left and sending Steele the wrong way.

Town prepared to push for an unlikely point, but they were stopped in their tracks when Kaminski saved from Estupinan and Mpanzu - who had become the first man to play in non-league and the Premier League with the same club - carelessly juggled into the path of Adingra. The Ivorian substitute lashed into the bottom corner and secured all three points for Brighton. 

18-year-old Evan Ferguson re-enforced his sharp shooter status in the closing stages when he swivelled on the edge of the box and thundered a shot against the inside of the post, but he would not be denied in stoppage time when Dunk’s lofted pass found the impressive Estupinan down the left. The Ecuadorian’s perfectly executed low cross was converted by the sliding Ferguson, adding sheen to the scoreline at the Amex Stadium. 

After each goal was scored and the full time whistle blown, the 3,000 travelling Luton fans continued to sing of the 30-point deduction with which the club had been punished by the football authorities in 2008. If Luton are to achieve top-flight survival against the odds this season, they will need to maintain that defiant and determined attitude that has propelled the club back from non-league and the brink of extinction.  

Tightening up a defence that conceded 27 shots and 12 on target will be at the top of the agenda for Hatters manager Rob Edwards, who may well delve into the transfer market to find a solution. However, it should be remembered that Town’s opening day opponents were unfortunate not to lift the FA Cup last season, and they are preparing for a Europa League campaign which begins in earnest next month. 

At the artsy Ruby Pub & Hotel in Falmer, just a short walk away from the Amex, a scattering of home fans could still be heard questioning the conviction of their team’s play on opening day, truly signalling the extent to which Brighton chairman Tony Bloom is pushing the club to new heights.