Pascal Gross Plays Down Brighton Title Hopes Despite Climbing to Second in Premier League

Brighton midfielder Pascal Gross has dismissed suggestions that his side are Premier League title contenders, despite climbing to second with a 2-0 win over 10-man Brentford on Sunday.

Diego Gomez’s early stunner and a Gross penalty before half-time sealed a sixth league win in seven games. It lifted Brighton above Manchester City, who lost at Nottingham Forest on Saturday. 

Returning home after five straight away games in all competitions, the Seagulls have now kept a clean sheet in each of their last 10 top-flight wins, including all seven of their victories this season.

Gomez, who scored from the halfway line against Crystal Palace last month, opened the scoring after 15 minutes with a 25-yard left-footed shot past goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. 

Eight minutes later, Brentford forward Igor Thiago was sent off when referee Michael Oliver upgraded a yellow card after a pitchside monitor review showed the Brazilian’s arm catching Chema Andres in the face. Gross then rifled home a penalty in the 42nd minute, after Keane Lewis-Potter fouled Luka Vuskovic.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the German refused to entertain talk of a title race.

“No. We are not in a title race. We have started the season really well. It’s the beginning of the season though. You see the Premier League, the margins, you look at the results. We are not getting carried away yet. Every game we have to suffer a lot.”

Head coach Fabian Hurzeler took a more relaxed view of the excitement among supporters. He told the club website that the fans should be thrilled when they watch the team.

“They [the fans] should always be excited if they watch our games, and that’s our job, to make them excited.

“I always say they can dream, they can have high expectations of us, but these are things we can’t control.

“There are moments and phases in the game where the individual players, but also the whole team, can improve, and that’s the main focus for us.

“It was from the beginning, and it also be the case now, and for the rest of the season.”

Brighton head into the November international break in the Champions League places after another dominant home display. 

Brentford, who failed to register a shot on target, drop to eighth after their second league defeat of the season. They are still waiting for their first Premier League win at Brighton.